The 1565 Great Siege monument in Republic Street, Valletta is being given a much-needed new lease of life thanks to an injection of money by FIMBank plc in collaboration with the heritage NGO, Din l-Art Ħelwa. This bronze sculpture lies in Great Siege Square, opposite the law courts and by St John’s Co-Cathedral. Designed by Antonio Sciortino, one of Malta’s top artists of the 20th century, it consists of a granite base supporting three figures.
The female on the left, holding a papal tiara in her right hand, symbolises faith. The female on the right holds a mask of Minerva in her left hand, representing civilisation. Minerva was the Roman goddess of wisdom and the arts whom the Greeks called Athena. The male, standing in the middle,-portrays valour and holds a sword and a shield.
The monument was unveiled on May 8, 1927.
Conservators Ingrid Ross, James Licari and Frank Chetcuti, from Heritage ResCo, cleaned the sculpture of salt deposits, acidic bird droppings and past interventions.
“Bird droppings are extremely acidic and erode the protective ‘patina’ built through the years, over and above the possible coloured patination chosen by the artist and given by the foundry.
“Bronze corrodes when exposed to fluctuations of humidity and temperature,” Mr Licari said.
“The cleaning included the removal of external deposits, dirt and grime as well as any previously applied waxes and oils,” he explained. The areas of active corrosion – that show up as bright green powder – were cleaned and treated chemically in order to reduce the possibility of further damage. The bronze was then given several layers of a protective coat.
The stone pedestal was also cleaned. When bronze corrodes, the residues run down and penetrate the pores of the stone, causing stains.
Several maintenance attempts were undertaken in the past.
“Apparently, every time an event took place in Great Siege Square, not only in connection with the feast of September 8 (when Il-Vitorja is celebrated, marking the victory over the Turks in 1565 and that over the Axis powers in WWII), water and cleaning agents were used to wash the monument, which didn’t do the bronze any good,” Mr Licari said. The work was coordinated with architect Claude Borg from the Restoration Project Office at the Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs.
The conservation project which will be ready for next Wednesday’s celebrations was dedicated to Dennis Vella who died last year and who was curator of the National Collection of Modern and Contemporary Art.
Antonio Sciortino
Antonio Sciortino was born on January 25,1879 in Żebbuġ, Malta. In 1900, he won a national competition, entitling him to an annual subsidy of £40 sponsored by the Malta Society of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce to pursue studies in Rome.
In Rome, Sciortino studied at the Istituto di Belle Arti and attended the British Academy of Art, among other seats of learning. In 1902, he graduated in engineering and monumental architecture.
Later, at the British Academy of Art in Rome, Sciortino lectured sculpture and for 25 years was director of the same academy. He was conferred the title of professor of fine arts by the Italian government.
He was appointed curator and inspector of fine arts at the National Museum on May 3, 1937.
His bequest to the people of Malta included works spanning 40 years of activity.
Sciortino died on August 10, 1947, aged 68.