Posts Tagged ‘Pietà’

  • A MATTER OF FATE

    For British diplomat John Hookham Frere, January became a month of sorrows….

    Villa Frere Gardens - Fiona Vella (1)Some say that bad luck isn’t real and that there is no such thing as luck. Yet others would strongly avoid walking under a ladder or crossing the street in the presence of a black cat. They will certainly not open an umbrella indoors or drink any water that reflects moonlight, in the fear of attracting misfortune. Still, there are those who insist that whether you see it as lucky or unlucky, the chance event is the same. But is it?

    John Hookham Frere, a British diplomat, poet, scholar and philanthropist, is not known to have spoken of bad luck. However, when years went by and he started to suffer the loss of his loved ones all during the same month, he lamented that January was becoming too melancholic for him.

    Rumours say that his mother Jane, daughter of John Hookham (senior) who was a rich London merchant, had brought an astrologer’s silver cup as part of her marriage dowry. This cup originally belonged to her great uncle, John Dee, who was believed to be a conjurer. Legend said that he had used the cup to make some supernatural experiments but she insisted that this was not true. In defiance, she used the cup as a sugar bason.

    EJBCuriously, the ‘January calamity’ had already struck the woman that Frere would eventually marry – Elizabeth Jemima Blake. A portrait painted by Sir Martin Shee shows her as a very beautiful girl with large dark eyes and masses of dark hair. In January 1790, she married George, sixteenth Earl of Erroll, who committed suicide in June 1798 after he confided an official secret to a friend who then published the communication and its author.

    The childless and beautiful widow met Frere in the year 1800 when she was recommended to stay in Lisbon to alleviate her mourning sorrows. At the time, Lisbon was a favourite health resort and Frere, who had just been appointed Envoy to the Court of Lisbon, was requested by a common friend to take care of her. Soon, the two became very good friends and along the years, they kept in contact through letters. Eventually, they got married on the 12th September 1816.

    Lady Erroll never regained her health completely and this was a constant source of anxiety to her husband. A severe cold which she got while visiting the new rooms that were built at the British Museum for the Elgin marbles, wrought permanent damage to her constitution. A serious illness in 1820 obliged Frere to take her abroad and although she recovered some strength while travelling in the Mediterranean, it was clear that she would not survive the cold English climate.

    John-Hookham-Frere-painting-799x1024Since Frere preferred to live among English subjects, he chose to move to Malta. His sister Susanna, who had never married and who offered to help him to take care of his wife, joined them too. Initially, they resided in Casa Correa, a palatial building in Old Bakery Street, Valletta. Later on, they moved to Pietá, where they acquired two adjoined buildings, so that Susanna could live close by. This house on the waterfront helped Elizabeth to recover to better health and Frere began to show interest in the Maltese Islands which were so rich in history.

    Frere was very proficient in languages, namely Greek, Latin, Italian, French and Spanish. In Malta, he extended his knowledge in the Maltese and Hebraic languages. His ample library filled with prestigious and rare books became renowned with scholars, some of whom came to visit from abroad. At this time, he met Mikiel Anton Vassalli, a Maltese writer, linguist and philosopher.

    Vassalli was expelled from Malta a number of times due to his political beliefs. His troubled life led to much difficulties and Frere helped to alleviate some of his problems. He financed the education of his three sons, supported him to publish his books and helped him to start teaching at the University of Malta as the first Professor of Maltese language. Frere’s remarkable kindness persisted even after Vassalli’s death, on 12th January 1829, when he took the responsibility of his burial in the then Protestant cemetery of the Msida Bastion, after the Catholic Church refused to do so due to his alliance with the Protestants.

    Almost two years later, Frere had to return to these burial grounds again, this time to bury his wife when she passed away on 17th January 1831. His wife’s loss overwhelmed him with grief but he refused to return to England even though his relatives and friends advised him to do so. Eventually, he decided to acquire the steep hill behind his house in Pietá, turning the landscape into a set of lovely fertile terraces that were embellished with refined temples. From these peaceful gardens, he could look out at the cemetery where his beloved was resting.

    Villa Frere Gardens - Fiona Vella (22)Yet the ominous month was set to claim another victim, this time his sister Susanna who died on the 18th January 1839, eight years and a day following the demise of his wife.

    In some letters which Frere wrote to his relatives and friends, he expressed his regret that the penalty of a long life was to see all those whom he had loved wither away and die. While his earlier years had been dedicated to political writing and literary satires, he passed the last years of his life composing epitaphs.

    Instead of bringing an elation of joy at the beginning of a new year, January became acutely associated with death and Frere simply hated it. Who could have told him that this month would ultimately also claim his life – on 7th January 1846.

    Currently, Heritage Malta holds the title for the iconic gardens of Villa Frere in Pietá. In February 2019, Heritage Malta and the NGO Friends of Villa Frere, signed a partnership and management agreement for the promotion, public availability, and the running and operation of the historical site.

    The gardens of Villa Frere are opened for the public once a month or by appointment for groups. For further information, contact the NGO Friends of Villa Frere on Facebook or by email on villafrere@gmail.com

    (This feature was published in the SENIOR TIMES – JANUARY issued with the Times of Malta dated 24 January 2020)

    2020.01.24 / no responses / Category: Times of Malta

  • AKTAR MA NĦAFFER AKTAR INSIB

    “Jiena għandi vantaġġ li ma nsuqx,” bdieli d-diskors l-personaġġ li kellimt dil-ġimgħa, Tony Terribile. “Għaldaqstant kull fejn immur ikolli nimxi u b’hekk insib aktar ċans biex nosserva mill-qrib it-toroq li nkun għaddej minnhom.”

    Perspettiva interessanti! Personalment ma nistax nimmaġinani ma nsuqx u wisq inqas li nara dan bħala vantaġġ. Madanakollu fhimt sewwa x’ried ifisser bi kliemu u l-ftit ħin prezzjuż li għaddejt fil-kumpanija tiegħu, fetaħli orizzonti ġodda dwar kif nista’ napprezza iżjed it-toroq tagħna.

    Umilment Tony jiddeskrivi lilu nnifsu bħala ‘dilettant ta’ dak kollu li hu Malti’. Imma ċertament huwa ħafna aktar minn hekk. L-imħabba tiegħu lejn l-istorja ta’ pajjiżu Tony Terribilenebbħitu biex mhux biss jgħożż il-wirt storiku tagħna imma saħansitra biex b’inizjattiva personali jiġbor tagħrif siewi dwar l-għadd kbir ta’ teżori Maltin li forsi ħafna minna bilkemm nagħtu kashom. Fost xogħolijietu, laqgħatni l-ktieb tiegħu ‘Niċeċ u statwi fit-toroq Maltin’ li jikkonsisti f’ġabra ta’ informazzjoni u ritratti dwar in-niċeċ u l-istatwi li nsibu f’Malta.

    “L-interess tiegħi f’dawn in-niċeċ u statwi beda madwar 40 sena ilu. Sakemm kont għadni żgħir kont noqgħod ninnota biss it-toroq varji f’Tas-Sliema fejn kont noqgħod. Meta mbagħad bdejt nitfarfar u bdejt noħroġ il-barra minn dawn l-inħawi, skoprejt kemm kien hemm aktar x’tara anki f’diversi postijiet oħrajn.

    Darba minnhom ġietni f’rasi li naqbad il-kamera ċkejkna li kelli u nibda niġbed ir-ritratti tan-niċeċ u l-istatwi li niltaqa’ magħhom. Fuq kollox, meta kont immur lura d-dar, kont inniżżel id-dettalji tagħhom fostom: tat-triqat fejn jinsabu, id-dati u xi informazzjoni li jkun hemm imniżżla fuq il-plakek tagħhom u anki xi ġrajjiet li nkun smajt jew qrajt dwarhom.

    Maż-żmien indunajt li kont sibt speċi ta’ teżor li iktar ma kont inħaffer fih, aktar kont insib oġġetti prezzjużi. Dak li kien beda biss bħala biċċa xogħol personali għall-interessŻejtun - niċċa tal-1861 tiegħi biss tant kiber li deherli li kien dnub li ma naqsamx dak il-materjal kollu mal-oħrajn. U hekk twieled dan il-ktieb dwar in-niċeċ li jinsabu f’Malta. Ta’ min insemmi illi Patri Serafin Borg ippubblika ktieb simili dwar in-niċeċ li hemm fil-gżira t’Għawdex.”

    Naturalment qabel iltqajt ma’ Tony ħadt ħsieb li nagħti daqqa t’għajn tajba lill-ktieb tiegħu. Intbaħt kemm akkost li ngħidValletta - niċċa antika li nħobb tant il-patrimonju storiku Malti, kont għadni prattikament ma naf xejn dwar dan is-suġġett. Sakemm waslet il-ġurnata tal-laqgħa tagħna bdejt nimraħ aktar madwar in-niċeċ u l-istatwi li sibt fi triqati u b’hekk irnexxieli nikkonferma li f’pajjiżi letteralment kull kantuniera għandha storja x’tirrakkonta.

    “Kieku napprezzawhom it-toroq ta’ Malta huma mużew! Imma llum kulħadd bil-karozza u jibqa’ għaddej mgħaġġel u ma jara xejn.

    Għalija dawn in-niċeċ u statwi huma monumenti żgħar ta’ mħabba. Kollha għandhom sinifikat u xi ġrajja marbuta magħhom tan-nies li ħadmu biex sawwruhom. Uħud minnhom huma xogħolijiet artistiċi maħduma mill-aqwa skulturi lokali. Oħrajn tant huma antiki li ftit li xejn nafu dwarhom u għalkemm hija evidenti l-id tajba li ħadmithom, ħadd ma jaf min għamilhom. Ħasra!”

    Fil-fatt skont Tony waħda mill-eqdem niċeċ datati tmur lura sat-tmintax il-seklu.

    “Tinsab l-Imdina fil-mina magħrufa bħala ‘Tal-Għarreqin’ u tikkonsisti f’riliev sabiħ tal-Madonna bil-Bambin. Hi niċċa devota ħafna u spiss tkun mixgħula u mżejna bil-fjuri.”

    Bla dubju dawn ix-xogħolijiet huma xhieda tar-rabta tal-poplu mar-reliġjon tiegħu. Bosta minnhom huma kopji tal-istatwi titulari tal-post iżda mbagħad issib ukoll diversi Marsa - waħda mill-aktar niċeċ devoti llumstatwi li saru bħala radd ta’ ħajr kemm b’mod individwali u kif ukoll b’għaqda fost iċ-ċittadini tar-raħal jew belt.

    “L-akbar ammont ta’ niċeċ huma dedikati lill-Madonna b’mod speċjali lil Santa Marija tal-Karmnu.

    Fil-fatt l-aktar niċċa li għad għandha devozzjoni kbira sal-ġurnata ta’ llum hija n-niċċa mdaqqsa tal-Madonna ta’ Lourdes li tinsab fi Triq Diċembru XIII.

    Nistgħu ngħidu li dawn in-niċeċ u l-istatwi nsibuhom f’kull belt u raħal ta’ gżiritna. L-aktar post miżgħud bihom huwa Ħal-Qormi fejn hemm madwar 200 biċċa xogħol. L-inqas wieħed huwa Ħal-Safi Żejtun - niċċa antika ma' faċċata ta' dar privatagħalkemm meta tqis iċ-ċirkustanzi tal-post tara li xorta hemm ammont ta’ xogħolijiet konsiderevoli.

    In-niċeċ u l-istatwi tal-qaddis patrun jispikkaw. Però imbagħad ġieli ssib xogħolijiet ta’ qaddisin li ma jkunux daqshekk magħrufa u meta tfittex dwarhom ġeneralment issib li dawn ikunu saru fuq inizzjattiva personali.

    Eżempju simili hija n-niċċa tal-Madonna tal-Grazzja li tinsab f’kantuniera bejn Triq is-Santwarju u Triq il-Kbira f’Ħaż-Żabbar. L-istatwa twaqqfet minn Vitor Caruana b’radd ta’ ħajr lill-Madonna talli nħeles mill-attakk li l-Franċiżi għamlu f’dan il-post fl-1798. Hija xogħol ta’ Mariano Gerada li kien skultur mill-iprem kemm fil-ġebla u anki fl-injam.”

    Dawn ix-xogħolijiet ifakkru wkoll ċertu ġrajjiet li għadda minnhom pajjiżna. Fostom insibu għadd ta’ xbiehat li saru b’ringrazzjament mis-superstiti tal-marda qalila tal-pesta li ħakmet lil Malta fl-1813.

    “Partikolarment f’Ħal-Qormi, fejn din il-marda ħalliet bosta vittmi, insibu numru ta’ niċeċ imwaqqfa f’ġieħ Santu Rokku li huwa l-qaddis patrun ta’ din il-marda. Madanakollu personalment naħseb illi B'Kara - Niċċa f'tal-Infettiwieħed mill-aqwa monumenti li jfakkar daż-żmien hija l-istatwa ta’ San Bastjan, patrun ieħor tal-pesta. Din l-istatwa saret fl-1815 minn Ċikku u Gerolamo Fabri u qiegħda fil-bidu tal-istess raħal.

    Daqstant ieħor hija imprezzabbli n-niċċa li tinsab fl-inħawi tal-Infetti f’Birkirkara fejn l-isem innifsu jixhed illi f’dal-post kienu ġew midfuna l-vittmi tal-epidemija tal-pesta u l-kolera.

    Fuq ton aktar pożittiv anki n-niċċa li tinsab fi Triq il-Vitorja fl-Isla tfakkar dan il-gwaj. Iżda did-darba x-xbieha magħrufa bħala l-Madonna tan-Nofs saret bħala ringrazzjament talli ħadd minn din il-belt ma kien intlaqat minn din il-marda qerrieda.”

    Ma’ l-aktar niċeċ devoti wieħed kien isib ukoll numru ta’ indulġenzi.

    “In-nies kienet titlob lill-Isqof biex isiru l-indulġenzi fuq l-aktar niċeċ li huma kellhom devozzjoni lejhom. L-indulġenzi kienu jikkonsistu f’talb li jsir quddiem dawn in-niċeċMsida - niċċa devota sal-llum sabiex jinħafru l-pwieni mill-purgatorju. Mill-kitbiet li jinstabu fuq diversi niċeċ nafu illi dawn l-indulġenzi kienu għadhom jingħataw sas-snin ħamsin. Fil-fatt faċċata tal-Knisja ta’ Ħ’Attard insibu niċċa ta’ Santa Marija li ngħatawlha l-indulġenzi fl-1949.

    F’nofs is-seklu d-devozzjoni tal-indulġenzi bdiet tmajna sakemm spiċċat għal kollox. Madanakollu permezz ta’ dawn il-kitbiet dwar l-għoti tal-indulġenzi lin-niċeċ, illum nistgħu nsiru nafu ż-żmien meta bejn wieħed u ieħor saru dawn ix-xbiehat.”

    Ir-rakkonti marbuta ma’ dax-xogħolijiet huma kkuluriti u varjati ferm.

    “Waħda min-niċeċ li kienu ferm devoti tinsab faċċata tal-ġnien pubbliku li jgħaqqad l-Imsida mal-inħawi tal-Pietà. Hija niċċa tad-Duluri li għalkemm mhiex xi waħda ta’ livell għoli artistiku fl-istess ħinMsida - niċċa ta' Giuseppe Calì tfakkarna fi ġrajja ħelwa ta’ mħabba ta’ personaġġ magħruf sewwa f’pajjiżna. Fil-fatt din in-niċċa twaqqfet mill-pittur famuż Giuseppe Calì wara li l-Madonna qalgħatlu l-grazzja li jiżżewweġ lil Perennia Pace; tfajla li kienet toqgħod proprju f’dak l-isqaq u li hu tilef għaqlu warajha. Ġewwa n-niċċa huwa poġġa pittura tad-Duluri li pinġa huwa stess u għal diversi snin kull min kien jgħaddi mill-inħawi, kien jieqaf jgħid Ave Marija quddiemha. F’dawn l-aħħar snin, minħabba raġunijiet ta’ sigurtà, il-pittura tneħħiet min-niċċa u tpoġġiet fil-parroċċa tal-Imsida.

    Eżempju ieħor hija l-istatwa ta’ San Ġiljan li tinsab fil-bajja ta’ San Ġiljan. Din l-istatwa tmur lura lejn l-ewwel nofs tas-seklu 19 u magħha hemm marbuta tradizzjoni qawwija u folkloristika li ġejja mill-imgħoddi. Snin ilu minn taħt din l-istatwa kienet tgħaddi nixxiegħa tal-ilma ġieri. L-ommijiet li kien ikollhom lil uliedhom morda kienu jeħduhom f’din in-nixxiegħa u wara jgħoddsuhom s’għonqhom fir-ramel. Sadanittant l-omm kienet tinxteħet f’riġlejn San Ġiljan u titolbu:

    “Dak mhux ibni,

    Bdiltuli.

    Tfejjaqhuli

    Jew inħallihulek f’wiċċek.”

    Wara l-ilbies tat-tarbija kienu jinsarru u jindifnu fir-ramel u l-ħamrija għax kienu jemmnu li b’hekk il-marda tindifen magħhom għal dejjem. Din id-drawwa damet snin twal issir, tant li fl-1935 Sir Temi Zammit semmiegħa fil-ktieb tiegħu u żied jgħid li maż-żmien twieled qawl li kien jgħid “Mur indifen f’San Ġiljan”. Illum in-nixxiegħa għosfrot iżda l-istatwa ta’ San Ġiljan għadha wieqfa bħala tifkira tal-imgħoddi.”

    Għalkemm bosta min-niċeċ u l-istawi huma maħduma mill-ġebla Maltija, jeżistu numru ieħor mnaqqxa fl-injam.

    “Min ma kienx jiflaħ iħallas għax-xogħol tal-ġebel kien jordna n-niċeċ u l-istatwi tal-injam. Huma niċeċ sbieħ ferm però għandhom problema kbira: ma jservux daqs dawk tal-ġebel u għalhekk jeħtieġu aktar kura.

    Bosta minn dawn ix-xbiehat tal-injam insibuhom fil-Kottonera u fil-parti t’isfel tal-Belt Valletta. Madanakollu nsibu uħud minnhom f’lokalitajiet oħra; waħda mill-eżempji ewlenin tinsab qrib l-Għajn tal-Valletta - niċċa tal-injamĦasselin fi Triq il-Wied fl-Imsida. Fiha hemm meqjuma riliev sabiħ tal-Madonna tħaddan lil Ġesù mejjet fi ħdanha. Din hija waħda mill-isbaħ u mill-ikbar niċeċ tal-injam li għandna fi gżiritna u hi maħduma b’sengħa kbira.”

    Tony għarraffni illi kien hawn ħabta meta dawn in-niċeċ u l-istatwi bdew jinsterqu.

    “Matul is-snin sirt naf dawn ix-xogħolijiet b’għajnejja magħluqa u għalhekk ninnota aktar meta togħsfor xi waħda minnhom. Niċċa tipika hija waħda ta’ San Nikola li kien hemm fi Triq is-Santwarju f’Ħaż-Msida - niċeċ antiki li jsebbħu l-faċċati tad-djar tagħnaŻabbar u li ma nafx x’sar minnha! Lil xi niċeċ oħra insterqulhom il-fanali li kellhom quddiemhom jew il-grampuni li kienu mdawwrin bihom fejn dari kienu jitpoġġew it-tazzi taż-żejt sabiex jinxtegħlu fil-festa.

    Darba minnhom saħansitra spiċċajt il-Qorti fuq każ simili. Kont qiegħed ġewwa ħanut tal-antikitajiet u fost l-affarijiet li kellu, nilmaħ niċċa li kienet insterqet xi ftit tal-ġranet qabel minn raħal partikolari. Avżajt lill-Kunsill Lokali, sar rapport l-għassa u spiċċajt nixhed il-Qorti biex nikkonferma li dik kienet l-istess niċċa. Id-destin ried li xi snin qabel kont ħadtilha ritratt fil-post fejn kienet poġġuta u n-negattiva ta’ dak ir-ritratt intużat bħala prova.”

    Xtaqt inkun naf mingħand Tony kif inhu l-istat in ġenerali ta’ dawn ix-xogħolijiet?

    “Illum jeżisti ħafna interess dwar dawn in-niċeċ u statwi u bosta huma konxji tal-valur storiku tagħhom. Huma wkoll protetti mill-awtoritajiet u ħadd ma jista’ jċaqlaqhom minn posthom mingħajr permess.

    Il-biċċa l-kbira tagħhom qegħdin fi stat mhux ħażin, oħrajn huma traskurati mmens filwaqt li numru minnhom intilfu għax insterqu u ħadd ma ta kas.

    Forsi anki b’nuqqas ta’ għarfien ċertu niċeċ saritilhom il-ħsara meta nżebgħu peress li idealment dawn għandhom jitħallew kif kienu oriġinarjament. Infatti f’ċerti xogħolijiet li riċentement ġew restawrati, stajna naraw xi dettalji sbieħ li qabel kienu moħbija.

    Jiena nagħfas fuq il-Kunsilli Lokali biex jaraw li dawn it-teżori storiċi tagħna jkunu protetti u apprezzati. Nemmen li xogħolijiet bħal dawn għad għandhom sinifikat qawwi u huma xhieda tal-valuri Żejtun - niċċa miżbughareliġjużi tal-poplu Malti. Naħseb illi kieku kellna nerġgħu ndaħħlu d-drawwa li jinbnew dawn in-niċeċ fil-qalba tal-blokok tal-appartamenti ġodda tagħna, xbiehat bħal dawn ikunu kapaċi joħolqu sens ta’ ġabra u għaqda fost in-nies tal-inħawi.”

    Dan l-aħħar Tony Terribile qiegħed jagħti sehemu fi proġett ġdid li għandu l-iskop li jiġbor kemm jista’ jkun tagħrif dwar in-niċeċ u l-istatwi li fadal sabiex b’hekk dawn ikunu jistgħu jiġu protetti aħjar.

    Barra minn hekk, proprju dax-xahar tħabbar illi s-Segretarjat Parlamentari responsabbli mill-Kunsilli Lokali qed jagħti għajnuna finanzjarja lilValletta - Niċċa tal-injam fi stat ħażin uħud mill-Kunsilli Lokali madwar Malta u Għawdex biex iwettqu proġetti u interventi ta’ restawr fuq numru ta’ xogħolijiet li fostom jinkludu dawn in-niċeċ u statwi antiki.

    Din l-aħbar fakkritni mill-ewwel f’niċċa antika ta’ San Spiridione li tinsab fi Triq il-Gardiel Marsaskala. Għal dawn l-aħħar erbgħa snin, din l-istatwa li nħadmet fl-1909 kienet M'Scala - niċċa tal-1909 ta' San Spiridioneqegħdha fi stat imwiegħer peress li eżatt biswitha nbena blokk imdaqqas ta’ appartamenti kbar. B’xorti tajba meta kkuntattjajt lis-Sindku Mario Calleja, dan ikkonfermali illi l-Kunsill kien ser jirċievi fondi biex jibda xogħol ta’ restawr fuq xi niċeċ antiki u fostom fuq din in-niċċa partikolari. Nistqarr li nħossni tassew sodisfatta li finalment ser nara lil din in-niċċa titressaq f’post aktar sikur u xieraq fejn tista’ titgawda aktar minn kullħadd.

    (Nota: Dan l-artiklu ġie ppubblikat fit-Torċa tal-25 ta’ Lulju 2010)

    2010.07.25 / 1 response / Category: Torca - Perspettivi