Borg Gauci Donation

The Mikiel Anton Vassalli College – Malta School of Art would like to thank Ms Monica Persico who kindly donated to the school a bust of Giovanni Battista Delia, her grandfather.  The bust, in plaster of paris, is the work by artist Emanuel Borg Gauci (1911-1991). The same bust was even exhibited at Palazzo De La Salle in January 1951 when the artist had a solo comprising of paintings and sculptures. The exhibit, now housed at the school, was Number 52. 

Borg Gauci studied painting and sculpture at the Malta school of Art. He was also assistant to Edward Caruana Dingli at the School of Art for many years and lived in South Africa for a long time. 

Giovanni Battista Delia (1882 -1973) was a painter, sculpture and carver in his own right and is particularly known for his contribution to late 19^th century and early 20^th century Maltese furniture. A bronze version of the bust by Emanuel Borg Gauci was created for the Delia shop at the entrance of Valletta. Delia had ordered plaster of paris versions of the bust for each of his children.  

The school would also like to thank Ms Mary Clare Albanozzo, a long-term student at the Malta School of Art, who was of assistance during the donation process.