Cotoner bronze bust restored

Much-needed conservation work on the historic bronze bust of Grandmaster Cotoner, originally located high on the front of Notre Dame Gate, Vittoriosa, has been completed.

The long and laborious interventions were carried out by the Conservation Division of Heritage Malta based at Bighi on the initiative of Fondazzjoni Wirt Artna and funded through a sponsorship by the Vodafone Foundation.

This work of art is of national importance because it is one of the earliest known political artistic effigies. It is cast in bronze and weighs about 800 kilos. This restoration initiative forms part of a larger project by FWA to fully restore the Notre Dame Gate.

Notre Dame Gate was built by the Order of St John in the 1670s during the reign of Fra Nicola Cotoner. Its architecture is among the best representatives of the baroque military style.

Early next year, FWA will team up with the Superintendence for Cultural Heritage and Vodafone Foundation in holding a public art appreciation lecture and exhibition dedicated to this work of art at Notre Dame Gate.

The public exhibition will remain open for two weeks, after which the bronze bust will be hoisted back on top of Notre Dame Gate.

http://www.wirtartna.org