Missing information about St Lawrence church

On August 6 I was on duty in St Lawrence church in Vittoriosa and I noticed that a small board was fitted prominently in front of the side door.

I do not know who was responsible for the information on the painters of the various frescoes, canvasses and altarpieces in the church. This has been a good idea but the information is incomplete because four artists were left out. While Erardi, Busuttil, Buhagiar, Pisani, Calì, Cortis, Preti and Paladini were all mentioned, Raphael Bonnici Calì, Alessio Erardi (son of Stefano), Antonio Zammit and Gio Battista Bonomo were left out. Why?

Being a warden and guide in this rich historic temple, I was entrusted by the archpriest and the administration to help visitors and tourists about the history and decorations of this church and I do my best to answer their every question. Such lack of information therefore can never be accepted.

Bonnici Calì reproduced five of the six episodes from the life of the patron saint in the vaulted ceiling because which had been badly damaged by blast during the war, three in the main aisle, two in both transepts; the one in the choir was restored. These six episodes were all originally painted by Cortis and Calì.

Bonnici Calì also painted the four segments at the dome of the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament as it was destroyed on March 22, 1941 in an air raid. The originals were by Calì. Bonnici Calì also painted St Pius X, the Pope who granted the silver mace of the collegiate to the chapter in 1913; this is close to the entrance side door.

Erardi painted Our Lady of Sorrows in black with the Maltese faldetta in the choir under the large altarpiece, The Martydom of St Lawrence by Mattia Preti.

Bonomo painted the portrait of St Aloysius Gonzaga, which is found in front of the chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. He was the only artist born in Vittoriosa represented by this painting in the church.

Zammit painted St Alphonse Maria de Liguori which is by the main pilaster supporting the dome in front of the chapel with the Flight into Egypt.

I hope that whoever was responsible for this incomplete information will correct it as soon as possible. Cultural and historical organisations should be as accurate as possible when presenting information to the public and that mistakes are corrected immediately.