Restoration work on the atriums leading to the north and south side doorways of St John’s Co-Cathedral, in Valletta, adorned with beautiful 17th century wall carvings, has been completed.

St John’s Co-Cathedral curator Cynthia de Giorgio said the project consisted of the restoration of the dome and wall carvings that had sustained severe deterioration from the infiltration of rain water, causing the erosion of some of the carvings and the irreparable loss of gilding. The lower strata of the walls also sustained similar damage caused by rising damp. The carvings were found covered by a thick layer of dust and candle soot deposits, which accumulated over the years.

The first stage of the restoration process included the removal of the thick layer of dust and soot while a layer of linseed oil applied during the 20th century was removed using poultices of alkaline solutions, followed by the consolidation of the loose stone carvings and mortar joints. The walls were then prepared for regilding with 24 carat gold leaf, adopting the same gilding process used in the 17th century.

Restoration works began last January and were successfully carried out by the Maltese restoration firm ReCoop on the initiative of The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation.

The restoration of the two atriums follows that of the chapel of Aragon, Catalunia and Navarre, the chapel of Italy and the chapel of the Virgin of Philermos. Works on the chapel of Castille, Leon and Portugal will begin shortly.