Gianni Vella

Gianni Vella (9 May 1885 – 3 September 1977) was a Maltese artist. After studying in Rome, he produced many religious works which can be found in many churches in the Maltese Islands, but he also produced some secular works, including landscape paintings, cartoons and a stamp design.

Biography Gianni Vella was born in Cospicua on 9 May 1885. He started painting at a young age, producing paintings and other decorations for his hometown's Immaculate Conception feast. He was an apprentice to the Italian artist Attilo Palombi for seven years, and during this time he worked on frescoes in various churches.

Vella was eventually employed by the education department as a drawing master, and he illustrated Albert Laferla's book The Story of Man in Malta. In 1907, after being recommended by Palombi, he went to Rome to study at the British Academy and the Accademia di Belle Arti di Roma. While he was there, he won a number of prizes for his paintings and his work was exhibited in several Italian cities. He also produced cartoons for the satirical paper Il-Ħmara, and he designed masks for the 1927 carnival. He was a regular participant in the annual art exhibition held at the Trade Fair Grounds in Naxxar. In 1976, he was awarded a gold medal by the Malta Society of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce.

Vella married Mary Chretien, and they had three children: Maria, Aldo and Beppe. He died on 3 September 1977 at the age of 92. That same year, a documentary on his life was broadcast on local television. An exhibition of his works was held at the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta in 1983.

Works One of Vella's early works is Villa Borghese sotto Neve, an oil painting which won him a prize while in Rome.

Notable religious works by Vella include the Sacred Heart of Jesus at the Discalced Carmelite church in Birkirkara, some of the frescoes at the St Publius Parish Church in Floriana and decorations at the vault and apses of the Cathedral of the Assumption, Victoria. Other churches which contain works by Vella include the churches of St Augustine and St Francis in Valletta, the parish churches of Marsa, Tarxien, Għaxaq, Safi, Gżira, Naxxar, Birkirkara, Lija, Mellieħa, Żurrieq, Qala, Nadur, Xagħra, Sannat, Munxar and San Lawrenz, and various other churches and chapels around Malta and Gozo.

Some of his works can also be found at St Aloysius' College in Birkirkara and the Wignacourt Museum in Rabat.