Antoine Favray (1706-1798)

This book is a comprehensive monograph on the artist, whose importance had already been established through numerous articles and past exhibitions. The two authors examined hundreds of works by Favray (and others attributed to him), both in Malta and overseas, and a vast number of these are reproduced in this book. The first four chapters of the book feature Favray’s transition from Paris to Rome, his first Maltese stay, his ‘Turkish Adventure’, and his second Maltese sojourn respectively. Chapter 5 is devoted to his drawings, whilst in Chapter 6 his ‘Followers and Discredits’ are discussed.

The two authors join forces in bringing us this meticulously researched and excellently presented book, with Fiorentino being primarily responsible for the critical appraisal of Favray’s oeuvre, and Degiorgio bringing to the fore his archival expertise and a large number of unpublished references.

Stephen Degiorgio is a teacher and researcher, and for the last 25 years has researched the Archives of the Order of St John held at the National Library of Malta. He has published monographs related to Maltese history in Monuments and The Malta Independent.

The late Emmanuel Fiorentino was an art historian and critic. From 1975 till his death in 2008 he had been the regular art critic for The Sunday Times of Malta, and had published numerous art related articles in local books and periodicals. In 1998 he had organised the exhibition of drawings by Favray held at St James Cavalier in Valletta.

CONTENTS

From Paris to Rome (1706-1744)

The First Maltese Sojourn (1744-1761)

The Turkish Adventure (1762-1771)

The Second Maltese Sojourn (1771-1798)

Drawings by Antoine Favray

Followers and Discredits

Epilogue

Coda

Appendices

Bibliography

Index