Vella's stamp design for the shilling denominations of the Melita issue
Throughout his career which lasted over five decades, Vella worked in various media, including oils, watercolours and pastels. He also took commissions for private villas and houses. He produced many religious paintings and frescoes, and these can be found in many churches and chapels in the Maltese Islands. Vella returned to Malta in 1912 and opened an art studio in the capital Valletta. While he was there, he won a number of prizes for his paintings and his work was exhibited in several Italian cities. 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. 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. He was an apprentice to the Italian artist Attilo Palombi for seven years, and during this time he worked on frescoes in various churches. He started painting at a young age, producing paintings and other decorations for his hometown's Immaculate Conception feast.
0 kommentar(er)
