Dr Charlene Vella has just awarded the Premio “Antonello da Messina” on 14 April 2023 for the section “Studi Antonelliani” (studies on Antonello), the biennial event held in Rome by the Associazione culturale “Antonello da Messina” that celebrated the 25th edition this year.
The Premio “Antonello da Messina” is one of the activities held by the Associazione culturale “Antonello da Messina” that was established fifty-one years ago and has its head office in the Church of Santa Maria Odigitria dei Siciliani in Via del Tritone, Rome.
The ceremony used to be held in the auditorium of Michelangelo's Basilica of Santa Maria degli Angeli in piazza Esedra, and subsequently moved to the Basilica of San Marco in Campidoglio, Rome, in Piazza Venezia, which was founded in the fourth century CE and which houses Byzantine mosaics. The Premio “Antonello” aims to disseminate cultural values in honour of the great Antonello da Messina, who has for centuries served as a model and example of talent and artistic genius.
The awards are given to personalities who have distinguished themselves through their work and activities in the arts and cultural heritage, and other professions such as cinema, literature and journalism, and who have brought prestige to Sicily in general and to Messina, the birthplace of Antonello, in particular.
As part of its other activities, the Associazione publishes several volumes and books and organises exhibitions, seminars, and conferences principally on the life and work of Antonello da Messina in Rome and elsewhere. The latest of these events was a public lecture by Dr Charlene Vella held on the evening of 15 April 2023 in Rome and titled ‘L’eredità di Antonello da Messina: Venezia, Messina, e Malta’.
Among the art historians who have received the “Studi Antonelliani” award in the past are Mauro Lucco, Gioacchino Barbera and Salvatore Bottari. Dr Vella is the only foreigner to have ever received the prestigious award. The event was attended by HE Ambassador of Malta in Italy, Carmel Vassallo.
