Bio / Résumé
Dr Charlene Vella B.A. (Hons.) (Melit.) M.A. (Melit.) Ph.D. (Warwick) is a Senior Lecturer in Medieval and Renaissance Art History at the University of Malta’s Department of Art and Art History, as well as author and curator of exhibitions for over a decade.
She obtained her Ph.D in Art History from the University of Warwick in 2016 where she was awarded a full scholarship under the Warwick Chancellor’s International Scholarship. Her Ph.D tutor was Dr Donal Cooper (University of Cambridge).
Dr Vella leads several research projects on Late Medieval and Renaissance Art for which she oversees the diagnostic testing, conservation and restoration interventions on Renaissance Art works by Antonello da Messina’s nephews and the Gagini family of sculptors in Malta.
She is the author of two monographs and has published several papers in local and international journals. She received the ‘Premio Antonello da Messina 2023’ for the section ‘Studi Antonelliani’ organised by the Associazione Culturale “Antonello da Messina” held on 14 April 2023 at the Basilica di S. Marco in Campidoglio in Rome.
Education
Ph.D. History of Art, University of Warwick, 2016
M.A. History of Art, University of Malta, 2010
B.A. (Hons) History of Art, University of Malta, 2006
Professional affiliation
Department of Art and Art History, Faculty of Arts, University of Malta
Academic websites
University of Malta profile
Google Scholar profile
Academia.edu profile
Researchgate profile
Women Also Know History profile
Appointments
Trustee on the Alfred Chircop (1933-2015) Trust since April 2016
Member of the Malta Planning Authority’s Design Advisory Committee since April 2016
Member of the Board of the Malta Catholic Institute since May 2023
Secretary of the Voluntary Organisation Association of St Mary of Jesus, Franciscan Friars, Rabat, Malta, since January 2021
Executive committee: Malta Historical Society 2009–2011, 2011–2013.
Scientific Committee of academic journal Studi Storici Siciliani: Trimestrale di Storia della Sicilia Moderna e Contemporanea, since May 2023.
Member of the board of the Notarial Archives Foundation, Valletta, since March 2024.
Awards
Awarded the Premio “Antonello da Messina” by the Association Culturale Antonello da Messina on 14 April 2023 for the section “Studi Antonelliani” (studies on Antonello), the biennial event held in Rome by the Associazione culturale “Antonello da Messina” that celebrated the 25th edition this year.
Other
Successfully completed a Continuous Professional Development (CPD) course at the University of Malta held between September 2017 and June 2018.
Resident art critic, Sunday Times of Malta, 2008–2018.
Contributor to Times of Malta.
Dr Charlene Vella leads and attends study tours organised by the MA in Mediterranean Studies and the Department of Art and Art History at the University of Malta. These study tours last from five days to a week and see a group of lecturers, students, and guest participants travelling together to culturally significant regions, visiting several sites in different towns and cities that are thoroughly explored from an art historical lens.
Restoration and research projects relating to Late Medieval and Renaissance Art at the University of Malta, and overseeing diagnostic tests and restoration of Renaissance paintings by Antonello da Messina’s followers on Malta (Antonio de Saliba and Salvo d’Antonio) and the sculptor Antonello Gagini.
c. 2009, with Professor Mario Buhagiar, Restoration of mullioned windows on the facade of Casa Isabella, Mdina
2010 – 2012, Madonna Adoring the Child painting attributed to Antonio de Saliba, now at the Parish Museum, Żejtun, conservation and restoration by ReCoop Ltd.
2012 – 2013, Madonna And Child with Angels and Deposition paintings by Antonio de Saliba, Ta Giezu, Rabat, Malta, conservation and restoration by ReCoop Ltd.
2020 – 2021, 1504 Madonna and Child sculpture by Antonello Gagini, Ta Giezu, Rabat, Malta, conservation and restoration by PrevArti Ltd.
2021 - 2023, two predella panel paintings of the Resurrected Christ with St John the Evangelist and St Paul and another portraying St Andrew and another Apostle from a private collection attributed to Antonio de Saliba, conservation and restoration by PrevArti Ltd.
2022 – present, two paintings portraying St Louis of Toulouse and St Anthony of Padua from a private collection attributed to Antonio de Saliba, conservation and restoration by PrevArti Ltd.
2023 – present, overseeing conservation and restoration at PrevArti Ltd of two post-Byzantine paintings: an icon from Birgu Church of St Laurence and crucifix from the Parish Church of St George, Qormi.