Priceless polyptych at Mdina Cathedral (part three)

Abstract

The polyptch at the Cathedral Museum, Mdina, is neither signed nor dated, though several classifications made throughout the years appear as shades of the same opinion. Officially, the polyptych was first accepted as belonging to the Siculo-Catalan school, while now it is catalogued as a work of art by a Spanish school of the early 15th century. As far back as 1871, Canon Paolo Pullicino in his Antiche Tavole, ascribed the painting to the Sienese, Florentine and Pisan style of 1400. Chev. Jos. Galea concludes in his booklet "Mdina" that the painting is of Sienese origin and dates back to the 13th century. The latter's proposition strengthens the date put forward by Dr. John Cauchi, who is of the opinion that the polyptych is by the Spanish artist Ferrer Bassa who lived between 1285 and 1348.