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Gromphibberous Gozo, through the eyes of Edward Lear An Illustrated Art Talk by Guest Speakers Nicoline Sagona from Heritage Malta, with Selected Readings of the Artist’s Nonsense Poems and Gozo Diaries by professional actor Antony Edridge.
In a celebration of watercolours and words, lovers of art and poetry are invited to this forthcoming event, which will be held at Gozo Central Public Library, St. Francis Square, (Pjazza San Franġisk), Victoria, Gozo on
Wednesday 25th March 2026 from
10.30am - 11.30am.
This FREE event will be given in English.
To mark the 160th anniversary of British artist Edward Lear’s visit to Gozo in March 1866, the talk explores a sojourn during which the artist was enchanted by the island’s beauty. Following a brief introduction to Edward Lear – celebrated in both artistic and literary circles, particularly for his famous nonsense verse – the speaker will discuss the artist’s extensive travels throughout the Mediterranean and beyond, highlighting the Gozo visit.
Although Lear visited Malta on several occasions, he set foot on Gozo just once, spending eight consecutive days on the island. During that week he traversed Gozo on foot, sketching tirelessly at every turn. His landscapes offer us a rare opportunity to admire picturesque views of an untouched mid-19th-century Gozitan landscape.
Lear’s detailed diaries allow us to follow his movements on Gozo with remarkable precision. He numbered his drawings and frequently noted the date and time on each sketch, creating a vivid record of his journey. The talk will feature images of many of these works, drawn from both public and private collections in Malta and abroad.
Nicoline Sagona obtained a B.A. (Hons.) in History of Art in 2001 and an M.A. in Cultural Heritage Management in 2008, both from the University of Malta. She has been employed with Heritage Malta since 2005, initially as a curator and subsequently as Manager for Gozo Museums and Sites. She currently serves as Senior Curator for Gozo Museums and Sites which include the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Ġgantija. She is leading the curatorial team responsible for establishing the Gozo Museum, a regional multidisciplinary museum for the island of Gozo, now in its final stages of completion.
Sagona has researched and published various aspects of Gozo’s history, with a particular focus on foreign artists who depicted the island during their travels. Over the past twenty years, she has curated numerous temporary exhibitions spanning art history, archaeology, and ethnography. She also served as a committee member of the local NGO Wirt Għawdex from 2018 to 2023.
Antony Edridge is a professional actor from London, now based on Gozo. Since arriving on the islands in 2016, he has been involved in theatre, film, television, commercials and voice over work. He recently reprised the role of Secretary of State in ‘The Agency’ season 2 (Paramount Plus).
Some of his Malta & Gozo theatre highlights include; The Jew of Malta; The Lying Kind; A Midsummer Night's Dream; My Fair Lady; Mamma Mia; Image of an Unknown Young Woman; West Side Story and The Sound of Music.
He will be playing R.F. Simpson in the forthcoming stage production of ‘Singin’ in the Rain’ at Gozo’s Teatru Astra.
For more details about this free talk, please visit the Facebook page of Gozo Central Public Library
Book your place-seat reservations are limited and encouraged by sending an email to [email protected]
This event is the first of four planned talks for 2026 by Book Club Gozo in partnership with Gozo Central Public Library - Malta Libraries
Each event will feature guest speakers looking at different aspects of Maltese and Gozitan history.
Book Club Gozo acknowledges the generous support of Heritage Malta with this event.
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Event Venue
Pjazza San Franġisk, Victoria, Gozo, Malta
Tickets
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