Edward Caruana Dingli : a portrait painter

Abstract

The aim of this thesis is to present a complete biography of Edward Caruana Dingli and to provide a critical appreciation of his significant corpus of portrait paintings. The theme of portraiture has been given priority since it constitutes to the largest amount of works painted by Caruana Dingli and it is in portraiture that the artist owes his greatest artistic popularity. This study seeks to evaluate the artistic valour of these paintings and to render justice to the great artistic output of this artist who has not been yet duly acknowledged for his contribution in the Maltese artistic scene. This thesis focuses mainly on the works of Edward Caruana Dingli in Malta, which are mostly distributed in important public buildings and palaces or else are located in private collections. Few of his portraits are hanging in Maltese church sacristies and even less belong to private collectors in Gozo. Works by this artist can now be located in other countries. Thus my research was extended outside the Maltese parameters. Although Edward Caruana Dingli was a very prolific artist and a renowned art teacher, he has drawn attention to only a few art historians. The writings regarding this artist remained limited to general overviews. A complete critical study of the works of Caruana Dingli, particularly his portraits has never been yet compiled. The book by Mario J. Caruana Dingli, (Caruana Dingli Artists, Malta 1988), gives a brief outline of the artist's career, which is then repeated in various articles in Maltese papers and periodicals often by self appointed art critics. A high percentage of this research is original. A considerable number of Caruana Dingli's portraits have never come to light, or else were wrongly attributed. Certain biographical details were equally elusive since information has been passed on by oral tradition and was modified in the process. This study is mainly based on primary documentary source and on a vast repertoire of articles from local as well as foreign newspapers from the late nineteenth century until the present day. These articles contained essential information which helped to solved lacunas in the artist's career and witness commissions which are nowadays untraceable. The main problem in this research was the availability of documentation. Original papers of certain public buildings changed location due to the different functions of the premises. In the process valuable material was misplaced and went missing. Being a portrait artist Caruana Dingli received numerous commissions for private purposes. In these cases I had to rely on secondary sources and on verbal communications with the family members or other acquaintances of the sitters. Most of the private collectors were very willing to contribute to this study but a small number of other collectors were not available due to reasons beyond my control.