I am very grateful to Maria Rossella Dalmas and her brothers (The Sunday Times, October 7) for the information on the widely diffused portrait of Dun Gorg based on the October 2, 1954, photograph.
As I was very much involved in the illustrations for the first book about St George Preca, Dun Gorg 1880-1962, published in 1965 by the Society of Christian Doctrine - MUSEUM, I had first-hand experience of Giuseppe Cassar's great professional skills both as a photographer and a watercolour artist.
In November 1963, while I was choosing and seeing to the upgrading the best photographs of Dun Gorg with a handful of MUSEUM members, I approached Mr Cassar for advice on the matter. I showed him a photo I took on February 23, 1958, showing Dun Gorg during the blessing and laying of the foundation stone of the chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal at Blata l-Bajda by Archbishop Michael Gonzi. I asked Mr Cassar to eliminate the background and the persons around Dun Gorg.
Dun Gorg was standing, resting his right hand on the back of a chair, with his greatest collaborator Eugenio Borg beside him. Dun Gorg was wearing an overcoat and had a muffler around his neck as that winter afternoon was rather cold.
Mr Cassar, who knew Dun Gorg well, as he lived just a few hundred metres from the saint's home in High Street, Hamrun, brought out all possible details barely visible in the original picture. Without losing any characteristic of a full figure photograph, one could see the unlaced large boots Dun Gorg used, his deep contemplative mood at the moment and the authentic facial features.
On handing this artwork to me some days later, Mr Cassar told me: "Here you have a bozzetto for a bronze statue of our dear Dun Gorg". The result was outstanding and impressive. The more I looked at it, the more I appreciated this work that shows Mr Cassar's artistic ability to the full.
I have been told that Mr Cassar was eager to have Dun Gorg for a sitting at his studio. But Dun Goeg shunned such things and through his deep humility never accepted the invitation. However, Mr Cassar must have been more than satisfied with such excellent images of St George Preca that have now reached all parts of the Universal Church.
As I am still following all possible sources of information and pursuing further research on Dun Gorg's photos and pictures, I would be grateful if Ms Dalmas contacted me for some more detailed information.