Mario Caffaro-Rore (1910-2001) : a critical gazetteer of his works in Malta

Abstract

This research commenced a few years after Mario Caffaro-Rore’s death in Turin on the 15th of June 2001. The Italian artists was notably keen on writing nad consequently he left a considerable amount of postal correspondence which was of beneficial assistance to this study. The content of the letters to his clients hardly ever remained limited to a strictly business-related gist but conspicuously theyt dealt with heartfelt descriptions of his sacred thematic realisations while simultaneously divulging more personal sensibilities. Especially in those letters to his more distinctive clients he lengthily spoke on certain current personal exigencies in connection with the art he produced. Caffaro-Rore’s last correspondence with a Maltese client dates only to three months before his death. Nonetheless the Italian artists started his correspondence with Malta towards the 1950s; initially with Rev. Daniel Glavina, a Maltese Jesuit who resided in Turin for a while. Mario Caffaro-Rero evidently exempted himself from any established forms directed to publicize his art and this explains the great deal of wok that is still unpublished. Taking this view into consideration I was plainly stunned with the great array of works that I encountered on Gozo, mostly in private collections. The information in view of his artistic connection with Malta was indeed copious; both in terms of verbal communication and that discernible from correspondence.