Mattia Preti (1613 – 1699): The Calabrian Knight of the Baroque Mattia Preti, known as *Il Cavalier Calabrese* – the Calabrian Knight – stands as a monumental figure in 17th-century Italian Baroque painting. Born in Taverna, Calabria, on February 24, 1613, his artistic journey was one of remarkable transformation and evolution, absorbing diverse influences and culminating in a uniquely expressive style that profoundly impacted the art world, particularly in Malta where he spent much of his later life. Preti’s early training began under Giovanni Battista Caracciolo, a painter deeply roote…