Treasures of Malta,
Fondazzjoni Patrimonju Malti
It had to be something like the latest issue of Treasures of Malta to provide a most welcome modicum of cheer in these bleak times, not least with its striking cover of a detail from a 16th-century frescoed map of Malta hailing the 1565 victory over the Ottomans. It lies in the Hall of Maps at the Vatican, one among several showing the lands over which the pope held authority. In 1732, Louis XV gifted Grand Master Manoel de Vilhena with a fine portrait of himself by Jean Baptiste van Loo. Van Loo took over the commission from the famous portrait painter Hyacinthe Regnaud and managed to paint a most competent work of art, which is one the highlights of the President’s Palace but “which has failed to be given its due academic importance”. Carlos Bongalais’s paper supplies the background to this painting, which has tended to be overlooked in the palace’s collection.
On Lorenzo Manché’s 100th death anniversary,
Louis Borg Manché and
Edwin Borg Manché conclude a three-part series on the life and achievements of the ophthalmologist, educator and philanthropist.
This is the final article in a three-part series. Read part one and part two.
Role of Maltese in education
During the 19th century there was considerable public debate in Malta on the issue of the role that the Maltese language should play in education. Having a keen interest in education, Lorenzo Manché provided significant input to two major public reviews. The first was to Royal Commissioner Sir Patrick Joseph Keenan, who was sent to Malta in 1878 to investigate reforms to the educational system of the island, and the second, two decades later, to the Select Committee of the Council of Government set up in 1897 to look into the organisation of the Department of Education.