'Professor Mario Buhagiar, as the country’s foremost researcher and historian of our cultural history, has founded a school of cultural researchers and historians. Most of the writings of this rich festschrift would not have been written had not Professor Mario Buhagiar brought all his determination, balance and intelligence, to drive the researches and studies in this area of the Humanities.'
Ugo Mifsud Bonnici
President Emeritus
President Emeritus
Midsea Books in collaboration with the Department of History of Art at the University of Malta have produced a festschrift to celebrate Prof Mario Buhagiar’s outstanding lifetime academic achievements. This sizeable volume was produced on the initiative of Dr Charlene Vella, who edited the book.
Titled At Home in Art: Essays in Honour of Mario Buhagiar, the book has been prepared to honour the legacy of Prof. Mario Buhagiar and his love towards the art and history of Malta. It is also a fitting manifestation of gratitude for his contribution to the field of research and mentoring in the subjects he has dedicated his life to.
The book consists of 39 contributions by distinguished local and foreign academics. The book is in English, but includes also some papers in Italian and French. It is divided into four sections: Section 1 – From Medieval to Baroque: archaeology, history, painting, and architecture; Section 2 – Design and Decoration: fashion, manuscripts, precious metals, and wood; Section 3 – Neo-Classicism, Romanticism, Revivalism, and the Modern; and Section 4 – Interpreting the arts, society, and documentation. The book is therefore a rich and unique compendium of the latest research by foremost local and foreign academics.
The book has an introduction by President Emeritus Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, while authors include Vincenzo Abbate, Joan Abela, John Azzopardi, Michele Bacci, Francesca Balzan, Alain Blondy, Anthony Bonanno, Giovanni Bonello, Anne Brogini, Keith Buhagiar, Martina Caruana, Donal Cooper, Roberta Cruciata, Maria Concetta di Natale, Richard England, Mark-Anthony Falzon, Joe Friggieri, Anne Galea, John Gash, Carol Jaccarini, Helen Langdon, Anthony Luttrell, Roderick O’Donnell, Lawrence Pavia, Richard Reece, Mark Sagona, Dany Sandron, Giuseppe Schembri Bonaci, Keith Sciberras, Carmel Spiteri, Anne Swartz, Conrad Thake, Paula Varela Gomes, Peter Vassallo, Charlene Vella, Roger Vella Bonavita, Maurizio Vitella, Antoine Zammit, and Theresa Zammit Lupi.
The book runs into 752 pages in full colour hardback edition.
At Home in Art: Essays in Honour of Mario Buhagiar was published by Midsea Books in December 2016 and presented to Prof Buhagiar on 4 January 2017, his 72nd birthday. The panel consisted of President Emeritus Dr Ugo Mifsud Bonnici, Hon. Minister Evarist Bartolo, Pro-Rector Prof. Godfrey Baldacchino, and Dr Charlene Vella. It is available from leading bookshops and the publishers.