Dun Gwann, St Paul, Rabat and Art

Dun Gwann Azzopardi, the Wignacourt museum’s curator, talks to MaltaToday's Gilbert Calleja about the Museum, art and history. The Wignacourt Museum is this year celebrating its 25th anniversary:

..Standing right by St Paul’s grotto and the adjoined chapel, it was first intended as a pilgrims’ and cult centre and as the residence of the chaplains of the Order officiating St Paul’s grotto. There are three subjects which assure you Dun Gwann’s attention: St Paul, Rabat, and art, but there is much more to this humble priest than meets the eye. An art historian of international repute, he has contributed extensively to Caravaggio studies, particularly on the artist’s stay in Malta. For many years he served as curator to both the Wignacourt museum and the better known Cathedral Museums in Mdina and their priceless archives..

The museum has also a Baroque chapel, an 18th century organ and many miscellanea. Finally there is also the Lorenzo Gafa underground passage linking the ‘college’ to St Paul’s Grotto.” The Wignacourt also welcomes scholars and university students who want to research in its archives. Also available on demand is a library with rare editions, including the official records of the chaplains of the Order and their detailed accounts, drawings and a prints collection. This abundance of documents and artefacts is usually completed by the ever useful advice and insights of Dun Gwann..

“The highlight for the anniversary celebrations will be an international symposium on the cult of St Paul in the Christian churches with particular reference to Malta,” he says. “We have invited a variety of foreign participants ranging from archaeologists, historians, art historians and other scholars. Other activities include an exhibition organised in conjunction with Din l-Art Helwa, one by contemporary artists and another showing a selection of drawings for works in Maltese churches by the late Chevalier Vincent Bonello. We will also host a lecture on the Baroque concept of ‘the triumph of death’.”...