The St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation is investigating allegations that restorers working on one of the smaller domes swapped gold leaf for artificial substitute purpurin.
I am shocked and dismayed over these claims
Investigations have been going on for well over a month, with preliminary findings prompting the foundation to request a definitive scientific analysis, foundation president Paul Attard told The Sunday Times.
“We began investigating, without alerting anyone, the moment the allegations were made almost two months ago. We already have an indication of what happened, but we’re awaiting the results of a scientific analysis to be 100 per cent sure.”
Mr Attard was cagey when asked who the allegations were directed at, saying simply that they concerned “a local company”.
“But it’s not as though there are several companies engaged in restoration work at St John’s Co-Cathedral,” the foundation president added.
When pressed, Mr Attard said that an Italian restoration company was currently restoring parts of the Co-Cathedral, while a local company had completed restoration works some months ago.
The Sunday Times contacted a director of the local company in question, who categorically denied having anything to do with the allegations.
“I’m shocked and dismayed. This is the first we’ve heard of such claims. But I can categorically, 100 per cent deny that any of our restorers used purpurin on any areas previously covered in gold leaf. These claims are completely baseless,” the director said.
He also noted that any restoration works carried out at the Co-Cathedral were constantly supervised by two experts from the foundation.
One of the company’s lead restorers was equally dismissive of the claims. “We have all the gold leaf receipts and restoration documentation necessary to prove that our work was done correctly, and all restoration work at the Co-Cathedral is constantly supervised by foundation personnel,” he said.
Purpurin is a naturally occurring red-yellow dye found in the madder plant. Used to dye cloth for thousands of years, it was often used as a cheap gold leaf substitute throughout the 19th century.
Restorers of St John’s Co-Cathedral in the 1860s had used purpurin in this manner, layering it over silver leaf to lend it a golden tinge.
The natural dye’s use as a gold leaf substitute has now been discarded, with restorers nowadays only resorting to purpurin when it had been used in a previous restoration.
Sources told The Sunday Times that any purpurin-coated areas would eventually discolour and fade over the course of some years.
Mr Attard was reluctant to divulge much information about the investigation, saying the allegations could have repercussions “not only on people’s jobs and reputations but also the integrity of the Co-Cathedral.”
However, he said that if the allegations turned out to be true, the foundation would leave no stone unturned in ensuring those responsible were held liable and that the Co-Cathedral’s integrity would be upheld.