Michele Busuttil

A student of art with Rocco Buhagiar (c.1725-1805) in Valletta, at age 18 in 1780 Michele Busuttil moved to Rome alongside Giuseppe Grech (1755-1787) to continue his studies at the Accademia di San Luca, where he was tutored by sculptor Tommaso Rigi.

[2] Michele Busuttil opened a private art school next to his father's house in Strada Irlandese, Valletta (close to the Lower Barrakka), where he taught Massimo Gauci and Giorgio Pullicino, who would later assist him as university professor.

In 1800 the rector of the University of Malta, Francesco Saverio Caruana, appointed Busuttil as first professore del disegno, in charge of the new Drawing School, with yearly wage of 200 scudi.

He died in 1831 in Valletta and was buried in the family grave in the Collegiate Parish Church of St Paul's Shipwreck.

[2] His works are scattered in Lija, Tarxien, Birgu, Żabbar and Żejtun on Malta; and at Fontana, Għajnsielem, Għarb, Rabat and Żebbuġ on Gozo.