Kitba ta’ Mario Attard<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rokku Buhagiar huwa wie\u0127ed mill-pitturi ewlenin ta\u2019 l-a\u0127\u0127ar fa\u017ci ta\u2019 l-era Barokka f\u2019Malta. Ma jkun qieg\u0127ed jing\u0127ad xejn \u0127a\u017cin jekk insemmu lill-Fran\u010bi\u017c Antoine de Favray, lil Rokku Buhagiar u lil Giuseppe Grech b\u0127ala tlieta mill-aqwa esponenti ta\u2019 l-arti Barokka fil-fa\u017ci a\u0127\u0127arija tag\u0127ha f\u2019Malta. Ma rridux ninsew li l-identita\u2019 Barokka f\u2019pajji\u017cna ba\u017cikament \u0121iet minn Ruma u minn Napli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Ma niskanta xejn li awtomatikament mill-qarrejja jkun hemm min jistaqsi Barokk x\u2019inhuwa? Din il-kelma \u201cbarrueco\u201d, li tfisser perla raffa hija ta\u2019 ori\u0121ini Portugi\u017ca u li da\u0127let fil-Malti mill-Fran\u010bi\u017c. Hija mod ta\u2019 espressjoni bl-arti (fil-ka\u017c tag\u0127na bil-pittura) li ori\u0121inat fis-Seklu Sbatax u baqg\u0127et \u0127ajja sas-Seklu Tmintax. L-ori\u0121ini tieg\u0127u dan l-istil artistiku jafu lil Ruma tal-Papiet. \u017bviluppa b\u0127ala gost ta\u2019 ornament jew moda. Imbag\u0127ad il-Barokk \u0127are\u0121 mill-Italja u nfirex ma\u2019 l-Ewropa u da\u0127al fl-Amerika Latina. Nistg\u0127u ng\u0127idu li kull pajji\u017c addotta l-istil Barokk b\u2019dik il-laqta tieg\u0127u. F\u2019Malta, bosta huma tal-fehma li l-Barokk g\u0127andu mieg\u0127u ta\u0127lita Rinaxximentali.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Il-Barokk b\u0127ala pittura tali beda biex ikun ta\u2019 dekorazzjoni mal-\u0127itan jew mas-soqfa b\u2019mod spe\u010bjali fil-palazzi u fil-knejjes. Mas-soqfa b\u2019mod partikulari bdew jitpittru dehriet kbar u vasti, xeni mimlijin attivita\u2019. B\u2019dan il-mod, b\u2019mod illusiv, tin\u0127onoq l-e\u017cistenza tas-saqaf ng\u0127idu a\u0127na, jew tal-\u0127ajt. Din il-forma kienet e\u017cistenti fir-Rinaxximent. B\u2019danakollu l-Barokk fittex li jikkombina fatturi esteti\u010bi…il-grandezza, l-aspett teatrali, il-moviment, rappre\u017centazzjoni ta\u2019 l-inifinita\u2019…
Fi kliem ie\u0127or il-Barokk g\u0127aqqad flimkien diversi fatturi minn forom o\u0127ra ta\u2019 l-arti li \u0121ew qabel.
Fis-Sekli Sbatax u Tmintax se\u0127\u0127 f\u2019Malta fil-forma ta\u2019 minjatura l-istil Barokk fil-pittura u fl-arkitettura. Dan seta\u2019 jkun possibli bis-sa\u0127\u0127a tal-livell kulturali g\u0127oli li kellha t-tmexxija tal-Kavallieri ta\u2019 l-Ordni ta\u2019 San \u0120wann. Barra minn hekk, it-tmien lingwi differenti li kien i\u0127addan l-Ordni kellhom rivalita\u2019 bejniethom min minnhom kien kapa\u010bi jkollu l-aqwa xog\u0127ol ta\u2019 l-arti fil-palazzi u fil-knejjes tag\u0127hom. Minn din ir-rivalita\u2019 ddakkru l-knejjes Kattoli\u010bi tal-g\u017cejjer tag\u0127na li \u2018l quddiem huma wkoll kienu jikkompetu f\u2019dik li hija arti mal-Kavallieri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dan il-perjodu Barokk se\u0127\u0127 f\u2019\u017cew\u0121 fa\u017cijiet, u nibdew bl-arkitettura fejn l-ewwel fa\u017ci jista\u2019 jing\u0127ad li kienet iddominata fost l-o\u0127rajn minn Francesco Buonamici (1596-1677) li permezz tax-xog\u0127ol tieg\u0127u fil-Knisja tal-\u0120i\u017cwiti fil-Belt li kienu esponuti g\u0127all-ewwel darba f\u2019Malta l-ewwel sinjali espressivi tal-Barokk, Melchiore Gafa\u2019 (1635-1667) li studja f\u2019Ruma u li kien l-uniku artista Malti li seta\u2019 j\u0127abbatha ma\u2019 skulturi o\u0127ra barranin ta\u2019 \u017cmienu, Ercole Ferrata (1610-1686) u Giuseppe Mazuoli (1697-1720) (skultur minn Siena li kien in\u0121ieb f\u2019artna biex ikompli x-xog\u0127ol mhux komplut fuq ix-xog\u0127ol fl-ir\u0127am tat-Tg\u0127ammid ta\u2019 Kristu, wara li Melchiore Gafa\u2019 kien waqa\u2019 minn fuq l-armar waqt dan ix-xog\u0127ol u miet fl-1667). Mentri fil-qasam tal-pittura Barokka fl-ewwel fa\u017ci tag\u0127ha nsibu primarjament lin-Naplitan Mattia Preti (1613-1699) li stabbilixxa ru\u0127u fil-Belt Valletta fl-1661. Fil-fatt il-Barokk fil-pittura n\u0121ieb f\u2019Malta minn Preti nnifsu. Stefano Erardi (1630-1716) segwa\u010bi tal-Preti u huwa meqjus b\u0127ala l-uniku pittur tas-Seklu Sbatax li seta\u2019 joffri sfida lill-istess Mattia Preti, Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio (1573-1610), Giuseppe d\u2019Arena (c.1633-1719), Guido Reni (1575-1642), Stefano Erardi (1630-1716), Lionello Spada (1576-1622), Jusepe Ribera (1589-1652) u Andrea Sacchi (1599-1661), b\u2019dan ta\u2019 l-a\u0127\u0127ar mi\u017cmum b\u0127ala l-aqwa esponent tal-Barokk Ruman f\u2019Malta.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u017c-\u017bebbu\u0121i Gian Nicola Buhagiar (1670-1745) jista\u2019 jitqies b\u0127ala figura ewlenija u rappre\u017centattiva tal-fa\u017ci a\u0127\u0127arija tal-Barokk f\u2019artna f\u2019dik li hija pittura. Buhagiar studja f\u2019Ruma. Student ta\u2019 Buhagiar li wera kapa\u010bitajiet \u0127afna iktar minn min g\u0127allmu kien is-Senglean Francesco Vincenzo Zahra (1770-1773) – mag\u0127ruf i\u017cjed b\u0127ala Francesco Zahra – anki jekk jidher li ma studjax barra xtutna. Fil-knisja tal-Kunvent tal-Klawsura fuq Santa Margerita, Bormla, Zahra pitter ix-xog\u0127ol ewlieni li jinsab fuq l-artal ma\u0121\u0121ur bil-Madonna tal-Karmelu, b\u2019San \u0120wann tas-Salib i\u0127ares attent fil-pre\u017cenza ta\u2019 Santa Tere\u017ca, fil-waqt li Santa Margerita (patruna tat-twellid) tinsab sigura fid-dell tal-Madonna tal-Karmnu. Dan il-kwadru huwa mi\u017cmum b\u2019wie\u0127ed mill-kapolavuri ta\u2019 l-arti Maltija. Pietro Paolo Troisi (c.1700-1750) kien esponent ie\u0127or abbli li studja f\u2019Ruma. Andrea Belli (1703-1772) huwa esponent ie\u0127or ta\u2019 l-a\u0127\u0127ar fa\u017ci tal-Barokk f\u2019Malta. Belli kien kontemporanju ta\u2019 Zahra, i\u017cda \u0127iltu ftit kienet tikkompara ma\u2019 ta\u2019 Zahra. Jing\u0127ad li fejn kienet tid\u0127ol il-\u0127ila, l-invenzjoni u l-\u0127ass, Zahra kien jg\u0127addi anki lill-img\u0127allem tieg\u0127u Gian Nicola Buhagiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hawnhekk nixtieq nosserva \u017cew\u0121 affarijiet. G. Calleja f\u2019 L\u2019Arte<\/em><\/strong>, \u0127ar\u0121a tas-7 ta\u2019 Settembru 1865 jikteb li Rokku Buhagiar kien aljiev ta\u2019 Arrigo Arnau u mhux Enrico Regnaud. L-istess jag\u0127mel Robert Mifsud Bonnici f\u2019 Dizzjunarju Bijo-Biblijografiku Nazzjonali <\/strong>f\u2019pa\u0121na 64. It-tieni \u0127a\u0121a tirrigwarda lil Giuseppe Grech. Dr. N. Zammit f\u2019 L\u2019Arte<\/em><\/strong> tat-22 ta\u2019 Novembru 1865 ma jsemmix direttament li Grech kien aljiev ta\u2019 Rokku Buhagiar; minflok jikteb li tg\u0127allem ta\u0127t diversi surmastrijiet. Barra minn hekk, qabel ma ntbag\u0127at jistudja Ruma kien ta\u0127t idejn Antoine de Favray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Jekk ikollna ni\u017cnuh lil Rokku Buhagiar ma\u2019 Francesco Zahra, insibu lill-viva\u010bita\u2019 li rri\u017cultat mid-daqqiet tal-pinzell ta\u2019 Zahra tinbidel fi lwien li je\u017cer\u010bitaw il-kalma f\u2019Rokku Buhagiar. Barra minn hekk, il-\u0127ila ta\u2019 l-invenzjoni f\u2019Buhagiar kienet limtata mhux \u0127a\u017cin b\u2019tali mod li nsibuh ikun ripetittiv l-aktar meta ji\u0121i biex jag\u0127ti interpretazzjoni artistika fuq l-istess tema. Il-kwadri ta\u2019 l-Assunta li Rokku Buhagiar pitter f\u2019Santa Marija ta\u2019 \u0126a\u017c-\u017bebbu\u0121, fl-Oratorju San \u0120u\u017cepp f\u2019Bormla u f\u2019Santa Marija tar-Rokna f\u2019\u0126al Tarxien jirrenduh ripetittiv. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dwar il-\u0127ajja ta\u2019 Rokku Buhagiar ftit li xejn nafu. Jing\u0127ad li twieled f\u2019Bormla fejn il-jum u x-xahar m\u2019humiex mag\u0127rufa. Lanqas is-sena li twieled fiha, biss, huwa mag\u0127ruf li twieled madwar is-sena 1725. Sa mill-ewwel snin ta\u2019 \u017cg\u0127o\u017citu wera inklinazzjoni bis-serjeta\u2019 g\u0127all-pittura. Rokku r\u010bieva l-attenzjoni me\u0127tie\u0121a mill-\u0121enituri tieg\u0127u, u wara li ng\u0127ata edukazzjoni skolastika xierqa, kien afdat f\u2019idejn g\u0127alliem tal-pittura. Kemm il-\u0127ajra kif ukoll il-progress ma naqsux fih. Kien g\u0127alhekk li beda jattendi fil-bottega tal-pittur Enrico Regnaud, li f\u2019dawk i\u017c-\u017cminijiet kien fost l-aktar pitturi rinomati fil-g\u017cejjer Maltin. Ta\u0127t dan l-g\u0127alliem Rokku Buhagiar kompla miexi \u2018l quddiem \u0121mielu hekk li rnexxa fil-prin\u010bipji u t-teknika tad-disinn. Dan l-g\u0127alliem irnexxilu jg\u0127in lil Rokku Buhagiar jibni ba\u017ci tajba bi\u017c\u017cejjed \u0127alli \u2018l quddiem ikollu l-\u0127ila jibni stil partikulari tieg\u0127u meg\u0127jun mis-sa\u0127\u0127a ta\u2019 g\u0127arfien tajjeb tal-qawwa tal-kuluri – xi \u0127a\u0121a li nafu li Buhagiar la\u0127aqha iktar ma mmatura. Biss, dak li tg\u0127allem kellu l-limitazzjonijiet tieg\u0127u. Mhux hekk nistg\u0127u ng\u0127idu g\u0127all-g\u0127ira artistika li kompliet tissa\u0127\u0127a\u0127 fi\u017c-\u017cag\u0127\u017cug\u0127 Bormli\u017c u li nibbtet fih ix-xewqa li jkompli j\u017cid iktar il-livell tat-tag\u0127lim pittoriku tieg\u0127u. Dak i\u017c-\u017cmien Ruma kienet is-soluzzjoni g\u0127ax-xewqa ta\u2019 Rokku. Kellu madwar 30 sena meta telaq lejn Ruma. Mar mimli \u0127e\u0121\u0121a mimlija mill-inkora\u0121\u0121iment u l-assikurazzjoni li g\u0127amlulu s\u0127abu li f\u2019Ruma kien se jikseb l-immortalita\u2019 artistika tieg\u0127u.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Qatta\u2019 diversi snin f\u2019Ruma u \u0121ie lura Malta fl-1763. waqt li kien l-Italja, in\u0121ibed mill-\u0127ila ta\u2019 Giacomo Zoboli u finalment sar aljiev fil-bottega ta\u2019 Zoboli fejn dam g\u0127al xi snin. Wara li la\u0127aq il-mira tieg\u0127u, Rokku Buhagiar twebbel li jsegwi l-passi tal-pittur Guido Reni. F\u2019dan il-qasam irnexxa wkoll tant, li ma kinetx \u0127a\u0121a fa\u010bli li tag\u0127raf pittura ta\u2019 Buhagiar minn ta\u2019 Reni. Kollox ma\u2019 kollox, l-arti Rumana bi\u017c-\u017cmien \u0127alliet influwenza f\u2019xog\u0127lijietu u kienet essenzjali biex akkwista dak l-g\u0127arfien u dik l-identita\u2019 li kien je\u0127tie\u0121.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Meta kien qorob lejn it-tmenin sena, ma\u0127kum mill-g\u0127eja li radditlu l-karriera artistika tieg\u0127u li kienet mimlija daqs bajda, kif ukoll l-g\u0127omor li kellu kien qieg\u0127ed jag\u0127fas fuqu, Rokku Buhagiar irtira flimkien ma\u2019 \u0127uh fil-Kunvent tal-patrijiet Tere\u017cjani f\u2019Bormla. Hemmhekk qatta\u2019 l-a\u0127\u0127ar jiem ta\u2019 \u0127ajtu fit-trankwillita\u2019 – g\u0127alkemm ftit jew wisq di\u017cillu\u017c peress li kien waqa\u2019 fil-faqar, sa l-anqas kellu biex jindifen, \u0127a\u0121a li \u0127adu \u0127siebha l-istess patrijiet Tere\u017cjani tal-kunvent ta\u2019 Bormla. Miet fl-istess kunvent fl-10 ta\u2019 Lulju 1805. fejn jinsab midfun fil-qabar tal-fratelli.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Rokku Buhagiar kien bniedem integru, urban u ta\u2019 natural kordjali \u0127afna…imma fuq kollox kellu qima kbira lejn il-fidi Nisranija. \u0126ajtu ddedikaha lill-professjoni artistika tieg\u0127u. Dan il-fatt \u0121ag\u0127lu jg\u0127ix \u0127ajja irtirata \u0127afna.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Fl-ewwel nofs tas-snin 1770s, Rokku Buhagiar pitter tliet kwadri titulari tal-knejjes \u017cg\u0127ar: fl-1771 ta\u2019 Santa Marija tar-Rokna, f\u2019\u0126al Tarxien, fejn l-Assunzjoni ta\u2019 Marija f\u2019\u0126al Tarxien insibu lill-Madonna flimkien mal-kerubini (jew l-an\u0121li) tielg\u0127a s-Sema permezz ta\u2019 s\u0127aba li tispikka bid-dawl li qieg\u0127da tarmi; fl-1775 ta\u2019 Santa Marija, \u0126al Muxi f\u2019\u0126a\u017c-\u017bebbu\u0121 u fl-1776 tal-Madonna tal-Bon Kunsill fil-knisja mag\u0127rufa b\u0127ala ta\u2019 San Bert f\u2019\u0126al Tarxien.<\/p>\n\n\n\n F\u2019\u0126a\u017c-\u017bebbu\u0121 Rokku Buhagiar pitter il-Ver\u0121ni Marija tal-Konsolazzjoni jew kif inhija mag\u0127rufa Il-Madonna ta\u010b-\u010aintura. Dan ix-xog\u0127ol artistiku huwa meqjus b\u0127ala wie\u0127ed ambizzju\u017c \u0127afna fil-waqt li huwa folt f\u2019dawk li huma persuna\u0121\u0121i. Marija Ver\u0121ni flimkien ma\u2019 binha \u0120esu\u2019 tarbija jinsabu mdawrin minn disa\u2019 qaddisin. Kull wie\u0127ed minnhom i\u0121ib l-emblema tieg\u0127u. id-dehra ta\u2019 Santa Barbarba g\u0127ar-rkobbtejha, jikteb Mario Buhagiar f\u2019The Iconography of the Maltese Islands 1400-1900<\/strong>, pa\u0121na 156, hija influwenza mill-pittur Taljan Agostino Masucci (1691-1758). Ta\u2019 min i\u017cid li pittura tal-Masucci, San Karlu Borromeo, li postha jinsab fil-Kappella tar-Relikwiji, jew pre\u010bi\u017cament fil-Kappella tal-Lingwa Anlo-Bavarjana, f\u2019San \u0120wann, kienet g\u0127all-wiri fil-Mu\u017cew ta\u2019 l-Arti l-Belt Valletta f\u2019April 2004 wara li kienet restawrata.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Servewni Ta\u2019 G\u0127ajnuna:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Sammut Edward, Art in <\/strong>Malta<\/strong>, Progress Press, 1960 Kitba ta’ Mario Attard Rokku Buhagiar huwa wie\u0127ed mill-pitturi ewlenin ta\u2019 l-a\u0127\u0127ar fa\u017ci ta\u2019 l-era Barokka f\u2019Malta. Ma jkun qieg\u0127ed jing\u0127ad xejn \u0127a\u017cin jekk insemmu lill-Fran\u010bi\u017c Antoine de Favray, lil Rokku Buhagiar u lil Giuseppe Grech b\u0127ala tlieta mill-aqwa esponenti ta\u2019 l-arti Barokka fil-fa\u017ci a\u0127\u0127arija tag\u0127ha f\u2019Malta. Ma rridux ninsew li l-identita\u2019 Barokka f\u2019pajji\u017cna ba\u017cikament \u0121iet minn Ruma u minn Napli. Ma niskanta xejn li … Continue reading Rokku Buhagiar (1725 – 1805) Il-Pittur Li Jinsab Midfun Fil-Kunvent Ta\u2019 Santa Tere\u017ca, Bormla<\/span>
Hawnhekk ni\u0121u g\u0127all-a\u0127\u0127ar snin ta\u2019 l-arti Barokka f\u2019Malta, u proprju esponent partikulari minn dawk li jimmarkaw dan il-perjodu a\u0127\u0127ari huwa s-su\u0121\u0121ett ewlieni ta\u2019 din il-kitba…Rokku Buhagiar.
Nistg\u0127u ng\u0127idu li l-fa\u017ci a\u0127\u0127arija tal-pittura Barokka huwa mmarkat fost l-o\u0127rajn mill-a\u0127\u0127ar snin ta\u2019 Francesco Vincenzo Zahra, bir-ritorn tal-Fran\u010bi\u017c Antoine de Favray (1706-1798) li kien \u0127abib tal-qalb ta\u2019 Zahra u li kien il-pittur l-aktar popolari mal-Kavallieri ta\u2019 San \u0120wann f\u2019Malta, Enrico Regnaud (1692-1764), l-aljiev tieg\u0127u Rokku Buhagiar (c.1725-1805) – Cfr. The Iconography of the Maltese Islands 1400-1900<\/strong> ta\u2019 Mario Buhagiar, pa\u0121na 155, referenza Nru.49 – li jing\u0127ad li studja f\u2019Ruma u li wara l-mewt ta\u2019 Zahra stabilixxa ru\u0127u b\u0127ala esponent ta\u2019 l-arti sagra u Giuseppe Grech (1755-1787) li tg\u0127allem ta\u0127t Rokku Buhagiar (Ibidem, p.151), u li mal-mewta tra\u0121ika tieg\u0127u fl-g\u0127omor ta\u2019 32 sena f\u2019Ruma fejn jinsab midfun fi\u010b-\u010bimiterju tal-parro\u010b\u010ba ta\u2019 San Lawrenz (Ruma stess), g\u0127alaq il-perjodu Barokk fil-g\u017cejjer Maltin. Irridu ng\u0127idu li dan l-a\u0127\u0127ar perjodu ma pprodu\u010biex wisq pitturi tajbin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Il-mewt ta\u2019 Francesco Zahra fid-19 ta\u2019 Awissu 1773, \u0127alliet vojt artistiku li mbag\u0127ad imtela spe\u010bifikament minn Rokku Buhagiar u l-Fran\u010bi\u017c Antoine de Favray.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Nistg\u0127u ng\u0127idu li kull perjodu ppre\u017centa ta\u2019 l-inqas \u017cew\u0121 pitturi f\u2019rivalita\u2019 artistika. Li kieku Pasquale Buhagiar (missier Gian Nicola) g\u0127ex iktar mill-45 sena li kellu, kien ikollu b\u2019rivali lil Alessio Erardi (\u010b1671-1727), iben Stefano. Minflok Alessio (li fil-parro\u010b\u010ba ta\u2019 Bormla pitter lill-Madonna ma\u2019 San \u0120wann u l-Erwie\u0127) kellu b\u2019rivali lil Gian Nicola Buhagiar. Gian Nicola mbag\u0127ad ra lill-\u0127ila ta\u2019 Francesco Zahra teg\u0127ilbu. Fil-ka\u017c ta\u2019 Rokku Buhagiar, ng\u0127idu li kien hemm \u017cmien meta flimkien mal-pittur G\u0127awdxi Michele Busuttil (1758-c.1828) kienu jie\u0127du l-kummissjonijiet g\u0127al xog\u0127ol ta\u2019 pittura. Busuttil ukoll studja f\u2019Ruma, fl-Accademia di San Luca ta\u0127t il-pittur Mariani Rossi. Fl-g\u0127oxrin sena bejn l-1770-90 tista\u2019 tg\u0127id li Rokku Buhagiar \u0127adem bla rivali. Imbag\u0127ad tfa\u010b\u010ba Giuseppe Grech (li kif nafu t\u0127arre\u0121 ta\u0127t l-istess Rokku Buhagiar) li bbrilla f\u2019Ruma. Grech i\u017cda, li miet tnax-il sena qabel Rokku Buhagiar, \u0127adem ftit wisq f\u2019Malta. Minflok, tne\u0127\u0127i l-ftit li hawn lokalment, il-parti l-kbira tal-pitturi tieg\u0127u jinsabu fl-Italja, partikolarment f\u2019Ruma.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lill-\u0127idma artistika ta\u2019 Rokku Buhagiar naqsmuha fi tnejn. L-ewwel perjodu jirrappre\u017centa lill-maturita\u2019 bikrija tieg\u0127u. F\u2019dan i\u017c-\u017cmien Buhagiar jidher ikun influwenzat i\u017c\u017cejjed mill-istili artisti\u010bi ta\u2019 nofs is-Seklu Tmintax. Pitturi li \u0127allew influwenza fuq Rokku Buhagiar u li dan ta\u2019 l-a\u0127\u0127ar applika f\u2019\u0127idmietu estratti artisti\u010bi tag\u0127hom kienu Gian Nicola Buhagiar, Francesco Zahra u Enrico Regnaud, Guido Reni u Carlo Maratta (1625-1713).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It-tieni perjodu tal-\u0127ajja pittorika ra fih lil Rokku Buhagiar jil\u0127aq il-maturita\u2019, liema akkwist wasslu sabiex jibni gradwalment l-identita\u2019 tieg\u0127u b\u0127ala pittur. Kien f\u2019dan il-perjodu li l-aktar ipprodu\u010ba x-xog\u0127lijiet l-i\u017cjed mag\u0127rufa tieg\u0127u. Hawnhekk insibuh jil\u0127aq il-kwalitajiet artisti\u010bi li jinterpretaw dawk li studjaw fl-iskola Rumana ta\u2019 l-arti. L-u\u017cu ta\u2019 l-ilwien \u010bari u l-g\u0127arfien tajjeb ta\u2019 l-u\u017cu tal-kuluri g\u0127enuh jinterpreta l-espressjonijiet tieg\u0127u u fl-istess \u0127in g\u0127enuh ukoll jikseb dik l-identita\u2019 li kien g\u0127ad jonqsu.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Rokku, flimkien ma\u2019 \u0127uh, kien telaq minn Bormla u mar joqg\u0127od fil-Belt Valletta. Ma naqasx li huwa wkoll ikollu l-\u0127anut tax-xog\u0127ol tieg\u0127u (jew il-bottega) fil-Belt stess. Fiha kien i\u0127arre\u0121 diversi artisti \u0121odda bil-g\u0127an li jispikkaw xi w\u0127ud minnhom (kif kien g\u0127amel Giuseppe Grech, \u0127a\u0121a li di\u0121a\u2019 ssemmiet \u2018il fuq). G\u0127ajnejn il-Gran Mastru u l-Kavallieri kienu jkunu b\u0127al seqer fuq dawn il-bottegi u l-aljevi tag\u0127hom biex jisfruttaw minnhom l-a\u0127jar pittur prospettivi.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I\u017c-\u017cmien li g\u0127ex fih Rokku Buhagiar kien politikament in\u010bert, bl-Ordni ta\u2019 San \u0120wann jinsab g\u0127addej minn qalbiet influwenzati l-aktar mill-qalbiet politi\u010bi li kienet g\u0127addejja minnhom l-Ewropa. Fil-fatt, Buhagiar ra l-bidliet l-aktar importanti li sawru lil Malta tal-lum: \u2018it-tke\u010b\u010bija\u2019 tal-Kavallieri ta\u2019 San \u0120wann minn Malta u d-d\u0127ul tal-Fran\u010bi\u017ci fl-1798, it-tke\u010b\u010bija tal-Fran\u010bi\u017ci fl-1800 u peress li miet fl-1805 ra l-a\u010b\u010bettazzjoni tat-tmexxija kolonjali Ingli\u017ca mill-Maltin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mil-lat po\u017cittiv i\u017cda, Buhagiar gawda minn dak li ma la\u0127qux l-artisti ta\u2019 qablu. Qieg\u0127ed nikteb hekk g\u0127aliex l-artisti ta\u2019 l-a\u0127\u0127ar tas-Seklu Tmintax sabu perjodu inqas fertili. Dan \u0121ara peress li l-parro\u010b\u010bi tista\u2019 tg\u0127id kienu fornuti bi\u017c\u017cejjed bil-kwadri mportanti li kienu je\u0127tie\u0121u. Fattur ie\u0127or kien li knejjes \u0121odda qajla kienu g\u0127adhom jinbnew. L-unika possibilita\u2019 kienet tkun in-ne\u010b\u010bessita\u2019 – kull meta kien jin\u0127ass il-b\u017conn tag\u0127ha – li pittura qadima tkun maqlug\u0127a minn o\u0127ra \u0121dida.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
L-ewwel xog\u0127ol importanti mog\u0127ti lil Rokku Buhagiar kien fl-1760, meta l-pittur kien jinsab fit-tletinijiet ta\u2019 \u0127ajtu. Sa issa, ftit li xejn je\u017cistu kwadri li jistg\u0127u jkunu attribwiti lilu qabel dik is-sena. B\u2019kuntrast ma\u2019 dan, l-ewwel dokument fid-deher li jippre\u017centa lil Rokku Buhagiar b\u0127ala pittur (anki jekk mhux mal-\u0127itan tal-knisja), j\u0121ib id-data tal-1752 meta t\u0127allas 300 skud g\u0127all-pittura tal-Baldakkin g\u0127all-Knisja Parrokkjali tas-Si\u0121\u0121iewi. Hija \u0127asra i\u017cda li dan il-baldakkin il-lum jinsab mitluf.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Element ie\u0127or li ji\u0121i qabel id-data 1760 huwa marbut mal-kwadru tal-Madonna tal-Porto Salvo, li tinsab fil-knisja ta\u2019 Santunuzzu, fil-\u0126amrun. Fuq wara ta\u2019 din il-pittura hemm id-data 1746. Madanakollu kulma nistg\u0127u ng\u0127idu f\u2019dan il-ka\u017c huwa li je\u017cistu \u010berti kriti\u010bi ta\u2019 l-arti li jattribwixxu lil din il-pittura lil Rokku Buhagiar. Xejn ma jista\u2019 jing\u0127ad fi\u017c-\u017cgur, i\u017cda dak li jattribwiha lil Buhagiar huma sensiela ta\u2019 xejriet stilisti\u010bi li applika fil-kwadri tieg\u0127u li jappartjenu lill-ewwel fa\u017ci tal-\u0127idma artistika tieg\u0127u.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fi\u010b-\u010bert madanakollu hija l-\u0127idma artistika li saret fl-1767 \u0121ewwa x-Xag\u0127ra G\u0127awdex. Lir-ri\u017cultat li \u0127are\u0121 minnha, jidher kif Rokku Buhagiar beda jikseb l-g\u0127arfien, fil-waqt li Francesco Zahra, beda riesaq lejn it-tmiem tal-karriera tieg\u0127u (kif ukoll ta\u2019 \u0127ajtu).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fil-Knisja Parrokkjali tax-Xag\u0127ra, insibu lil Rokku Buhagiar ipitter lill-Madonna tar-Ru\u017carju fl-1767. Sentejn wara, fl-1769, Francesco Zahra pitter fl-istess knisja lill-Madonna tal-Karmnu u sena wara pitter ukoll lill-Madonna tad-Dawl. Hawnhekk sar taqbil bejn il-\u0127iliet fid-daqqiet tal-pinzell bejn i\u017c-\u017cew\u0121 pitturi Maltin. Prova ta\u2019 kemm ix-xog\u0127ol ta\u2019 Buhagiar intlaqa\u2019 tajjeb, tni\u017c\u017cel f\u2019inventarju tal-parro\u010b\u010ba tax-Xag\u0127ra li l-kwadru tal-Madonna tar-Ru\u017carju kien xog\u0127ol mill-isba\u0127. B\u2019ri\u0127et dan u b\u2019kuntrast mal-\u0127ila di\u0121a\u2019 stabbilitia\u2019 ta\u2019 Zahra, l-istess parro\u010b\u010ba kkummissjonat il-\u0127idma pittorika ta\u2019 l-artal tal-kappellun lil Rokku Buhagiar meta setg\u0127et tatu lil Zahra.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Prova o\u0127ra ta\u2019 \u0127ilet Rokku Buhagiar re\u0121g\u0127et \u0127ar\u0121et meta fl-istess perjodu, il-Parro\u010b\u010ba ta\u2019 Bormla tatu x-xog\u0127ol tat-tpin\u0121ija tal-kwadru ta\u2019 San Mark Evan\u0121elista g\u0127al wie\u0127ed mill-kappelluni tag\u0127ha. Il-qawwa vi\u017civa u s-sens qawwi ta\u2019 l-espressjoni kkonvin\u010ba bla kliem lill-Kapitlu Bormli\u017c, li min-na\u0127a tieg\u0127u, b\u2019sinjal ta\u2019 \u0127ajr u g\u0127arfien ikkommissjonah g\u0127all-erba\u2019 laterali tal-kappelluni li jirrappre\u017centaw lil Santa Katarina quddiem Maxentius, Il-Martirju ta\u2019 Santa Katarina, il-Lunzjata (li Keith Sciberras jikteb f\u2019L-Arti Barokka f\u2019Malta<\/strong>, p.146, li l-pittur jag\u0127mel referenzi \u010bari g\u0127all-istil ta\u2019 Guido Reni) u San \u0120u\u017cepp. Dawn il-pitturi jmorru lura g\u0127as-sena 1770. Irrid ing\u0127id dwar il-kwadru ta\u2019 San Mark, li din il-pittura mhux biss ikkonvin\u010biet lill-Kapitlu Bormli\u017c dwar il-\u0127ila artistika ta\u2019 Rokku Buhagiar, imma l-kriti\u010bi ta\u2019 l-arti jqisu lil din l-opra b\u0127ala wa\u0127da mill-a\u0127jar li qatt pin\u0121a l-istess Buhagiar.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lil Rokku Buhagiar insibuh ipitter lill-Madonna tar-Ru\u017carju din id-darba fil-parro\u010b\u010ba tas-Siggiewi. Meta jitqabblu b\u2019mod kritiku, Buhagiar jin\u0127ass aktar tekniku fil-kwadru tas-Siggiewi fil-waqt li f\u2019dak tax-Xag\u0127ra l-pittur jo\u0127ro\u0121 dik il-freskezza bikrija tieg\u0127u. Fuq l-istess binarji nsemmu lill-kwadru tal-Kun\u010bizzjoni flimkien ma\u2019 Sant\u2019Andrija u San Nikola fil-parro\u010b\u010ba ta\u2019 \u0126al G\u0127axaq, bl-attenzjoni tintefa\u2019 fuq San Nikola.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Lil Rokku Buhagiar insibuh f\u2019 \u2018konfront\u2019 analo\u0121iku ma\u2019 Filippo Vincenzo Pace fil-Parro\u010b\u010ba ta\u2019 San Publiju fil-Furjana. Sejja\u0127tlu analo\u0121iku lil dan il-\u2018konfront\u2019 g\u0127aliex qabbiltu ma\u2019 dak li ktibt i\u017cjed \u2018il fuq, Rokku Buhagiar u Francesco Zahra tqieg\u0127du fil-kefef separati tal-mi\u017cien tal-kritika artistika wara li t-tnejn pittru fil-parro\u010b\u010ba tax-Xag\u0127ra, G\u0127awdex. Din id-darba, r-rivalita\u2019 pittorika ma qabditx l-g\u0127eruq peress li Filippo V. Pace ma baqax interessat fl-arti sagra. Ma rridux ninsew li Flippo Vincenzo flimkien ma\u2019 \u0127uh Giuseppe Pace kienu t\u0127arr\u0121u ta\u0127t Antoine de Fravray. Kienet is-sena 1773 meta F.V. Pace pitter il-kwadru titulari tal-parro\u010b\u010ba tal-Furjana. Fl-istess parro\u010b\u010ba Rokku Buhagiar pitter il-kwadri ta\u2019 Sant\u2019Antnin u San Pawl.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fis-snin 1880s Rokku Buhagiar pitter il-kwadru tal-Konver\u017cjoni ta\u2019 San Pawl fi knisja \u017cg\u0127ira o\u0127ra din id-darba ta\u2019 San Pawl f\u2019Bormla. F\u2019dan il-kwadru San Pawl jinsab ippre\u017centat fil-waqt tal-konver\u017cjoni tieg\u0127u, fejn jinsab mix\u0127ut ma\u2019 l-art imdawwar minn s\u0127abu waqt li kienu jinsabu fi triqithom lejn Damasku. Fil-parti ta\u2019 fuq tal-kwadru jidher Alla. Ta\u2019 min iqisu kurju\u017c kif ukoll interessanti l-fatt li l-kwadru titulari ta\u2019 din il-knisja kien ikkummissjonat sabiex jitqieg\u0127ed minflok ta\u2019 qablu li kien impitter minn Francesco Zahra – kwadru li qabel kien mi\u017cmum fis-Sagristija imma llum jinsab mitluf. Irridu ng\u0127idu hawn li Francesco Zahra fl-1759 kien pitter il-kwadru tal-Martirju ta\u2019 Santa Barbara fl-istess knisja ta\u2019 San Pawl, f\u2019Bormla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fl-istess snin tat-tmeninijiet insibu lil Rokku Buhagiar ipitter lill-Madonna ta\u2019 l-An\u0121li fil-Mu\u017cew tal-parro\u010b\u010ba tal-Birgu u lil San \u0120wakkin fil-knisja tal-Kappu\u010b\u010bini fir-Rabat ta\u2019 G\u0127awdex. Fl-1783 Buhagiar pitter mill-\u0121did lil San \u0120wakkin imma din id-darba fil-kwadru tal-Kun\u010bizzjoni flimkien ma\u2019 Sant\u2019Anna u San \u0120wakkin fil-parro\u010b\u010ba ta\u2019 \u0126al Balzan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fl-1875 Buhagiar re\u0121a\u2019 pitter lill-Madonna ta\u2019 l-An\u0121li, din id-darba fil-knisja ddedikata lill-istess Madonna f\u2019\u0126a\u017c-\u017bebbu\u0121. Fl-istess sena pitter i\u017c-\u017cew\u0121 laterali tal-Madonna tal-Karmnu fil-Knisja tat-Tere\u017cjani f\u2019Bormla.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
L-element ta\u2019 kwadri ex-voto<\/em> (ji\u0121ifieri kwadri mpin\u0121ija b\u0127ala radd ta\u2019 \u0127ajr g\u0127al xi grazzja maqlug\u0127a) jo\u0127ro\u0121 b\u2019e\u017cempju mill-kwadru kbir tal-Madonna ta\u2019 l-Isperanza (1754) li jinsab fil-kappella ta\u2019 l-Isperanza, f\u2019Wied il-G\u0127asel, il-Mosta. F\u2019dan il-kwadru mill-iktar bikri ta\u2019 Rokku Buhagiar, insibu lill-Madonna bil-Bambin f\u2019\u0127o\u0121orha tassisiti \u0121ifen ta\u2019 l-Ordni jissielet mal-mew\u0121 f\u2019maltempata mill-ikreh (espressa mis-s\u0127ab iswed). Minn \u0127dejn saqajn il-Madonna jinsab \u0127iere\u0121 \u010bipp ta\u2019 ankra. L-ankra g\u0127all-ewwel insara kienet simbolu tat-tama (jew ta\u2019 l-isperanza).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kwadru ie\u0127or li nistg\u0127u nsej\u0127ulu ex-voto<\/em> wkoll, ma j\u0121ib l-ebda ikona qaddisa, jirrappre\u017centa dg\u0127ajsa tal-latini maqbuda f\u2019maltempata. (ara Referenza 99 ta\u2019 Il-Kwadri Ex-Voto Marittimi Maltin<\/strong>, Joseph Muscat. L-indikazzjoni ta\u2019 din ir-referenza tinsab f\u2019pa\u0121na 199 ta\u2019 l-istess ktieb).<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Kwadru ie\u0127or li Rokku Buhagiar pitter kien tal-Madonna tal-Kun\u010bizzjoni fil-knisja parrokkjali ta\u2019 \u0126al Tarxien, e\u017cattament fuq wie\u0127ed mill-artali tal-\u0121nub.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Il-\u0127idma kontinwa u fl-istess \u0127in fejjieda ta\u2019 Rokku Buhagiar li ma\u017c-\u017cmien g\u0127amlitu kompetittiv wasslet mhux biss biex ikun ikkumissjonat mill-Kapitli ta\u2019 bosta parro\u010b\u010bi f\u2019Malta u f\u2019G\u0127awdex, imma wkoll mill-Kavallieri ta\u2019 San \u0120wann. Il-Kavallieri tal-Lingwa ta\u2019 Kastilja kienu qabbdu lil Rokku Buhagiar bejn is-snin 1770-1790 sabiex imexxi x-xog\u0127lijiet li kienu saru fil-Knisja ta\u2019 San \u0120akbu fil-Belt Valletta, u li kienet taqa\u2019 ta\u0127thom.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Mifsud Bonnici Robert, Dizzjunarju Bijo-Biblijografiku Nazzjonali<\/strong>, D.O.I., 1960. fejn Mifsud Bonnici jikteb li Rokku Buhagiar kien imitatur \u010belebri ta\u2019 Guido Reni.
De Piro Nicholas, The International Dictionary of Artists who painted in Malta<\/strong> Said International Ltd., 1988.
Buhagiar Mario, The Iconography of the Maltese Islands 1400-1900<\/strong>, World Confederation of Salesians Past Pupils of Don Bosco – Lions Club, 1988.
Muscat John, Il<\/strong>-Kwadri Ex-Voto Marittimi Maltin<\/strong>, \u0120abra Kullana, P.I.N., 2003.
Coleiro Charles, Il<\/strong>-Festi Tag\u0127na<\/strong>, \u0120abra Kullana, P.I.N. 2003.
Sciberras Keith, L-Arti Barokka f\u2019Malta<\/strong>, Gabra Kullana, P.I.N., 2003. – Dan l-awtur huwa l-uniku wie\u0127ed li jag\u0127ti l-1723 (minflok 1725) b\u0127ala data approssimattiva ta\u2019 twelid Rokku Buhagiar.
Treasures of <\/strong>Malta<\/strong>, Vol. VI, No3 Summer 2003, \u201cThe Baroque Art of the Maltese Islands\u201d, Mario Buhagiar, p.p. 29 – 34.
Treasures of <\/strong>Malta<\/strong>, Vol. IX, No2, Easter 2003, \u201cFrancesco Zahra (1710-1773) \u201cGreat Artist of the Eighteenth Century\u201d, Emmanuel Fiorentino, p.p. 39 – 45.
Conti, Dr. Flavio, How to Recognize Baroque<\/strong>, Rizzoli Editore, Milano, 1978
Roccu Buhagiar<\/strong> (1725-1807)\u201d, Joseph C. Camilleri, \u201cIt-Tor\u010ba\u201d, il-\u0127add magazin, 4 ta\u2019 Mejju 2003, pagna 24.
G. Calleja, L\u2019Arte<\/strong>, anno 3o, 7 settembre 1865, nro. 64, p.4
Dr. N. Zammit, L\u2019Arte<\/strong>, anno 2o, 22 novembre 1863, nro. 25, p.2
Oreste Ferdinando Tencaioli, Artisti Maltesi a Roma<\/strong>, Roma, 1936 p.3
Malta<\/strong>, 8 Luglio, 1936, p.1 (sensiela ta\u2019 artikli mi\u0121bura fil-ktejjeb Artisti Maltesi a Roma<\/strong>)
Dominic Cutajar, Artists of the Buhagiar and Zahra Families<\/strong>, \u201cThe Times\u201d, October 3, 1980, pp. 4-5Irrid irrodd il-\u0127ajr lill-Pirjol Patri Martin Borg OCD tal-Kunvent ta\u2019 Sta. Tere\u017ca, Bormla tat-tag\u0127rif li tani.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"