Joseph Curmi (1958). Street decorations for the feast of St Lawrence, Vittoriosa. Photo: Gabriel Treeby Coleiro

John Baptist De La Salle (April 30, 1651-April 7, 1719), a French priest and education reformer, dedicated much of his life to the education of poor children in France. In doing so, he started many lasting educational practices. He inspired others and offered them guidance in teaching and caring for young people, in meeting failure and frailty with compassion, in affirming, strengthening and healing. His work quickly spread throughout France and, after his death, continued to spread across the globe.

Although St La Salle never set foot on our island, his educational influence eventually reached our shores in 1903 through the Brotherhood he established to run schools, the Brothers of the Christian Schools, better known in Malta as the Frères. The Brothers first set foot in Cospicua and Sliema, later moving to Vittoriosa in 1937 and to Gżira in 1938.

Incidentally, it is in Gżira’s parish church that we find the oldest painting in Malta of St John Baptist De La Salle. In the upper part of St Albert Street, Gżira, one finds Stella Maris College, the school founded and run by the Frères. Providentially, when the Brothers moved from Sliema to Gżira in 1938, Gżira’s parish priest Don Carlo Manchè, an ex-alumnus of Stella Maris, was overseeing the decoration of the side altars of the newly built parish church. The Brothers took this opportunity and suggested that it would be fitting to dedicate one of the altars to St La Salle.

In recognition of the formation he had received from the Brothers, Manchè decided to accept the Brothers’ petition and commissioned Gianni Vella (1885-1977) to prepare a pala d’altare of De La Salle, which was eventually paid for by the Brothers themselves.

Emvin Cremona (1959). Ta’ Liesse church, Valletta.

The Brothers’ holy founder, dressed in their typical long, black habit with a white rabat attached to the collar, occupies a central position in this elegant painting. His sight is fixed upwards on the open skies, towards which he is pointing with his index finger. He is accompanied by four schoolboys, all kneeling. The one on the left is holding rosary beads and the youngest is offering a lily, both symbols of the Blessed Virgin, for whom De La Salle had a special devotion.

St John Baptist De La Salle and St Lawrence were born in two countries very close to each other, but lived centuries apart, the former in France in 1651 and the latter in Spain in AD225. Despite this, their love for the unfortunate and their zeal to alleviate their suffering led them to cross paths in the ancient parish of Vittoriosa.

Gianni Vella (1938). Gżira parish church. Photo: Mark Bugeja

Annually, during the first week of August, the streets of this town are imposingly decorated for the titular feast of St Lawrence. In 1958, this feast’s organising committee decided to commission a set of 12 paintings of martyrs and other saints who drew attention to the virtues of St Lawrence. These were to be later affixed to banners raised on poles to decorate Main Gate Street (later transferred to Desain Street).

It is more than fitting that St La Salle was included in this set. These paintings were made by Joseph Curmi (1910-1982), who worked as a sail-maker at the Dockyard but practised this craft during his free time. In fact, apart from Vittoriosa, one finds Curmi’s paintings also forming part of festa street decorations in Gudja and Luqa.

On May 10, 1684, St La Salle gathered 12 of his best disciples in Reims and held a retreat for them until May 28, when they all pronounced their vows. The next day, after walking all night long, the 13 pilgrims arrived at the Marian shrine of Liesse, near Laon, about 45km north of Reims. The followers of De La Salle placed themselves under the protection of Our Lady, and kept a tender devotion to Our Lady of Liesse.

Although St La Salle never set foot on our island, his educational influence eventually reached our shores in 1903 through the Brotherhood he established to run schools, the Brothers of the Christian Schools, better known in Malta as the Frères

Near the entrance to the Grand Harbour, Valletta, on the west slope only a few metres from the sea, one can see the picturesque little church dedicated to Our Lady of Liesse, built on November 21, 1620, by the Knights of the Langue of France. The church was completely rebuilt in 1740 and consecrated by Bishop Vincenzo Labini on November 23, 1806.

When Bro. Michael Buttigieg FSC was entrusted by his superiors with the task of opening the Malta juniorate in 1953, he immediately started the annual pilgrimage by the Brothers of Malta to this shrine of Our Lady of Liesse.

At the time, Chev. Emvin Cremona (1919-1987), was already one of Malta’s most prolific artists. He studied at the Regia Accademia di Belle Arti, Rome, at the Slade School University College, London, and at the Ècole Nationale Supérieure des Beaux Arts, Paris. In 1959, Bro. Michael contacted Chev. Cremona and asked him to paint a picture showing St La Salle together with the first Brothers going on pilgrimage to the sanctuary of Our Lady of Liesse. This painting can still be seen adorning the church which today is the seat of the National Centre Apostolate of the Sea.

Karmenu Schembri (1986). St Benild Hall, De La Salle College, Vittoriosa.

In 1951, De La Salle College students who were earnestly preparing themselves to enter HM Dockyard, thought of honouring the patron saint of their alma mater in a most fitting and original way. They resolved to donate their first weekly salary towards the erection of a statue of the saint if they were successful in their Dockyard entrance examination. They contacted Chev. Cremona, who suggested that the monument should consist of a full-length portrait of the Brothers’ founder in colourful mosaic which would be both original and impressive.

On May 23, 1967, Bro. Charles Henry Buttimer FSC, superior general from 1966 to 1976, unveiled the monument which today lends an aura of majesty to the equally imposing entrance of De La Salle College. St La Salle is seen holding an open book with the words: In Pvero Spes (There is hope in youth). On his left, there are two apprentices. One has his eyes raised to the founder while the other is observing four tools and symbols – a hammer, a set square, a lightning bolt and a cogwheel – all representing the various trades practised at the Dockyard.

This artistic mosaic work was executed by Messrs Ferrari e Bacci of Lucca, Italy. (For more details, see ‘The building of De La Salle College and its majestic monument’, The Sunday Times of Malta, May 11, 2014.)

Harry Alden (1970). A printed photographic memento of the mural at St Michael’s College, Ta’ Ġiorni.

In 1970, Maltese artist Harry D. Alden (b.1929) planned a mural commemorating St John Baptist De La Salle as an education reformer and as the patron saint of teachers. This work was destined for St Michael’s Training College for Teachers at Ta’ Giorni in St Julian’s, which was directed by the Brothers from 1956-1972.

It consists of an apocalyptic vision featuring the benefits of education under the direct patronage and mentorship of St La Salle. The pictorial plane is divided in two main sections. The upper section is characterised by a hard-edged rendition of the different branches of education. Different figures are seen occupying different roles connected to academia, sports and apprenticeship.

Other elements such as a palette (visual art), theatrical masks (drama) and musical notes (music) refer to the humanities, whereas the eye (observation), the set square and the molecular structure are more related to the side of education that inquires and probes, namely science.

It is interesting to note that Alden, back in the 1970s, decided to incorporate the technological advances reaching the islands’ shore. In fact, he included the image of the round tape reels, which at that time were commonly associated with either to film or to the advent of computers.

A diagonal which crosses the picture plane guides the viewer downwards, from the glorified nature of education to the abyss of ignorance. Alden poetically featured three figures cordoned by a series of pointed triangular elements, symbolising a form of apocalyptic fire. The figures look thirsty, reaching out, craving knowledge.

Unfortunately, the work is today nowhere to be traced, and this critical and stylistic analysis is based on a poorly printed photographic memento of it.

Karmenu Schembri (1945-2004) was a creative artist. His trademark collection remains a series of posters commemorating the Independence celebrations which are today available for viewing at the PN general headquarters.

Over the years he taught a number of different disciplines but remains famous for the great passion with which he taught art. In the 1980s he was a teacher of art at De La Salle College. Here one can see a quadriptych (four-piece panel) depicting four main elements from the life and mission of St John Baptist De La Sale, namely spirituality, discernment of God’s call and purpose in life, the founding of the Brothers, and his charisma to draw young people towards God.

Here, Schembri managed to create a vigorous free-flowing motion using the minimum amount of detail to capture an inspiring, modern and attractive work of art. Using only four colours in oil pastels: white, black, red and yellow, and a few strokes, the drawings give enough detail to invoke in the viewer the sense of a journey and a reflection upon the saint’s life and mission. The quadriptych composition is made on plywood panels and is signed and dated March 1986.

To be concluded