HSBC Malta Foundation has increased its commitment towards Din l-Art Ħelwa with an additional €75,000 in financial support for the ongoing restor-ation of Our Lady of Victory church’s vault ceiling.

This was announced by HSBC CEO Mark Watkinson during a visit to the Valletta church in the presence of David Park, director of the Conservation of Wall Painting Department at the Courtauld Institute of Art, London.

With HSBC’s support for Alessio Erardi’s masterpiece, Din l-Art Ħelwa is restoring and conserving Our Lady of Victory church, Valletta’s oldest building.

Din l-Art Ħelwa’s executive president, Simone Mizzi, said HSBC’s substantial increase in funding ensures that conservation of Erardi’s scenes from the Life of the Virgin will be successfully concluded by 2015, coinciding with Din l-Art Ħelwa’ golden jubilee.

This is the fourth consecutive professional task undertaken by the Courtauld Institute of Art on wall paintings in Malta, which include work at the Magisterial Palace and St John’s Co-Cathedral.