[ Edward Caruana Dingli; Art and the War in Malta ] Autograph Letter Signed E Carnana Dingli to Mr Tuckwell

Four pages, 12mo, a word for a part of a destroyed building cut out (text runs, including part of the [...cut out, in fact CENSORED]), otherwise clear and in good condition. He begins by discussing Tuckwell's recent operation, praising doctors,concluding that it's no wonder your nation heads the world in all that pertains to civilization, science, art, politics, &c. He continues, It gives me great pleasure to know that my pictures are still a source of pleasure to you [...]. He refers to Tuckwell's loss of his wife and his kindnesses when Dingli was in England. He anticipates a visit from Tuckwell's grandson. He then discusses Malta recent wartime battering, Yes, we have been through terrible ordeals & the damage done by bombs has been very expensive not only in Valetta but all over the island. But the story of our trials is now known all over the workd & I will not waste space in recounting my personal experiences. Suffice it to say that the work of reconstruction has already started & slowly but surely we are getting back to normal life. I am now living again in my own house surrounded by my pictures, my furniture & household gods [sic], all of which I had removed for storage in safer places. All our sufferings are now a thing of the past & I confidently hope that the coming year will see the end of this world tragedy. He names a couple of buildings that have been destroyed (and the censor stepped in at one point), including the Royal Opera House which had given distinction to our city. He describes his move before the War, commenting on the superior lighting of his old studio. He contiinues, You say you have wonderd if many of thje originals of the paintings reproduced in my book [Malta : the colour and life of Malta from original paintings [1925?] have been destroyed. As far as I know none have been destroyed but I have lost sight of them since the book was published as I sold the whole lot to the publishers. Here & there however I have heard of portraits done by me having suffered damage thrpough blast or bombing of the buildings where they were hung - but they were comparaticvlely few. He concludes with discussion of his boys and his health, ending with a Merry Christmas.