Alberto Pullicino
An 18th-century Maltese painter whose vibrant, theatrical canvases captured the island's aristocratic life and religious fervor.
1719–1759 (age 40)·Birthday: February 6
Biography
Alberto Pullicino's brief life was spent almost entirely in Valletta, the fortified capital of Malta, where he became the leading native painter of his generation. Working during the island's period under the Knights of St. John, Pullicino absorbed the dramatic, sweeping style of the Italian Baroque that dominated the churches and palaces around him. His work, however, carried a distinct local flavor, portraying Maltese nobility, clergy, and biblical scenes with a vivid palette and dynamic composition. He was a sought-after artist for altarpieces and portraits, leaving a visual record of the island's 18th-century society. Though his career was cut short at age forty, his paintings remain central to Malta's artistic heritage, displayed in its most important museums and churches.
#1 When Alberto Was Born
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Alberto's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1719Born
1724Started school
1732Became a teenager
1735Could drive
1737Could vote
1740Turned 21
1749Turned 30
1759Turned 40
Key Achievements
- Painted the altarpiece 'St. Paul Shipwrecked' for the Church of St. Paul's Shipwreck in Valletta.
- Created a celebrated series of portraits of the Grand Masters of the Knights of Malta.
- His works are held in the permanent collection of Malta's National Museum of Fine Arts.
Did You Know?
He was baptized as 'Philiberto' but is universally known in art history as Alberto.
His father, Giuseppe, was also a painter, from whom he likely received his initial training.
Much of his documented work is still located in the churches and institutions in Valletta for which it was originally created.
“My brush must make the stone of Valletta feel as grand as Rome.”
