'Priceless' painting to be restored

Heritage Malta's conservation division has been entrusted with the conservation of the Madonna ta' Filfla triptych, a "priceless work of art" belonging to Zurrieq's parish church.

Other than preserving its elaborate details and artistic beauty, the conservators are hopeful that their work will shed more light on when this work of art was created, Heritage Malta said.

Even though most of the painting's details are still visible, time has left a great challenge for conservators. The painting is divided into three sections with the central panel portraying the Virgin Mary's Assumption to heaven and the side panels portraying St Joseph on the left and St Dominic on the right. The angels on the side together with the crescent moon, the supporting clouds, the barely visible crown and the hands joined in prayer are icons clearly associated with the Assumption.

The style used is vernacular and the technique is known as tempera, which involves a pigment combined with a protein medium. There is great elegance in the decoration of the Virgin Mary's attire, reflecting the unknown painter's Renaissance influence.

It is thought that the work was originally in the chapel on Filfla, hence its name. The chapel was deconsecrated in 1575 and all of its belongings, including the triptych, were moved to the San Leone Papa chapel, close to the Bubaqra cemetery. The triptych was later moved to Zurrieq parish church vestry, mainly for conservation purposes.

Doubts have however been cast on this account by Prof. Mario Buhagiar, who argued that the painting was too good to be left in a rather deserted chapel.

He also pointed out that the year 1604 painted at the bottom of the painting clearly contradicted this version of its history. However, it is difficult to determine whether this date was included at the time when the painting was finished or if it was added at a much later stage. Only a thorough documentation and a scientific investigation - such as pigment and binder identification and an examination under infra red and ultraviolet light - of the triptych's current state of conservation can hopefully clarify this.

With its exemplary dedication to do all it can to care for our art treasures, Zurrieq's parish church has in the past entrusted other triptychs and paintings to Heritage Malta for conservation and restoration. These works of art, including It-Tlugh Ta' Marija Fis-Sema' (The Assumption) triptych, are displayed at the church's vestry.