Antonio Sciortino's Speed sculpture unveiled

Sculpture bought by government at auction for €163,000 in June to 'mark four national anniversaries'

Antonio Sciortino's Speed. Photo by Ray Attard
Antonio Sciortino's Speed. Photo by Ray Attard
Antonio Sciortino's Speed. Photo by Ray Attard
Antonio Sciortino's Speed. Photo by Ray Attard
Antonio Sciortino's Speed
Antonio Sciortino's Speed

Video is unavailable at this time.

Culture Minister Owen Bonnici unveiled 'Speed', a bronze sculpture made by Antonio Sciortino back in the 1920s. The Government, through Heritage Malta, bought this statue for €163,000 at a public auction this June. Sciortino is said to have felt strongly about this scuplture. 

The art deco scuplture depicts two galloping horses and horsemen whose speed leaves behind a strong force in the opposite direction.  

"I see it as a perfect representation of how much Malta has managed to achieve in such a relatively short span of time," Bonnici said. "We already had a collection of scupltures by Sciortino and this latest acquisition has just increased that collection's value."

Bonnici said that the government bought this scuplture as a gift to the public to mark the 50th anniversary of Independece Day, the 40th anniversary of Republic Day, the 35th anniversay of Freedom Day, and the 10th anniversary of Malta's accession to the European Union. 

"The government is committed to promoting local artists," Bonnici said. "We are currently working on amendments to laws related to the preservation of cultural heritage. We are open to feedback from the public."

Speed will be kept at the new National Museum of Arts, located in the Auberge d'Italie in Valletta.