Unrecognised paintings by Antonio de Saliba on Malta

Abstract

One of Antonello da Messina's (c.1430-1479) nephews, Antonio de Saliba (c.1466/7-c.1535), was a prolific artist who ran a successful workshop in Messina from the mid-1490s until at least 1534. Antonio established himself in Messina after a sojourn in Venice that lasted for around fifteen years. This commenced in around 1480, when he started his formal artistic training as an apprentice to his cousin Jacobello di Antonio, who was Antonello's son. Maltese collections house a number of Renaissance works of art, among which are paintings by Antonio de Saliba and his cousin Salvo d'Antonio (doc. from 1493-d. pre-1526). Among these are two recently restored panels by Antonio dated to 1515 from the documented titular altarpiece for the Franciscan Observant church of Santa Maria di Gesu in Rabat, Malta, that must have consisted of a possible eleven or fifteen compartments. [Excerpt]