Churchgoers shocked as painting falls from dome

A painting on canvas by renowned artist Envin Cremona tore off from the inner part of the Balzan parish church dome and crashed to the floor in several pieces during a liturgical function.

Orchestra members who were sitting underneath the dome on Wednesday evening managed to avoid the falling pieces which also brought down an oil-lamp.

Laurence Scicluna, who was directing the orchestra, said: "There was a crackling sound, similar to that of firecrackers and people sitting opposite us started shouting, some saying that the ceiling was about to collapse. All of us got out of the way fast".

A young woman playing the flute was slightly hurt in the incident, when her arm was grazed by the falling canvas.

The painting, one of Cremona's last works before he died, depicts various incidents from the life of Holy Mary. Painted in the 1980s, the canvas had been affixed in one of the church's small domes, to the side of the main altar.

But the accident has not dampened the festive spirit in the village, which is celebrating the feast of the Annunciation tomorrow and preparations were in full swing yesterday morning.

Parish priest Kalcidon Vassallo is still stunned as to how the incident happened.

"The dome's paint peeled off and the painting just came down," he said, pointing to parts of the canvas still hanging from the ceiling.

The canvas is very heavy since a mixture, including lead, was used to attach it to the ceiling, Fr Vassallo explained.

"The church was full of children just a short while before the incident," he said, thankful that no one was badly injured.

Mr Scicluna believes the incident would have been much more serious had the orchestra actually been playing at the time, since the music would have drowned out the sound made by the canvas as it was coming away from the ceiling. "All 30 of us would have been injured had we not made a run for it," he said.

Fr Vassallo said a restorer has already examined the damage and restoration works should start next week. In the meantime the area has been cordoned off.

He said special attention will be given to other paintings to avoid similar incidents.