As a child, Doof painter, Timotao Camilleri (Maltese, 1590-1623), experienced episodes in where he envisioned the future. His wealthy merchant family were hoping that the episodes were not of a demonic nature and to their relief the epidsodes ended. Soon afterwards Camilleri showed interest in drawing and painting and demostrated a creative mind unlike anyone that was in the family. he was sent to Italy to study painting. When he returned he was given many comissions and he worked hard for many years until he was stricken with a new attack of future vision. This vision was of a smiling, silent black and white face which deeply inspired Camilleri.Many centuries later,the art historian P.T. Brown made the connection between the image to the Doof and Camilleri’s vision in the 1930’s. Camilleri painted the Doof much to the dismay of his family and patrons and his life came to end abrutly when he presented his painting, Adoration of the Doof to the Knights of Malta and was beheaded for blasphemy.
* Please Note: The Camilleri paintings in the Museum's collection are is not originals. They are reproductions that were made on the island of Malta by a team of expert conservationists, using the real paintings of Camilleri as models. The real paintings of Timotao Camilleri are in the Maltese Museum, Valletta, Malta.