The paintings on the ceiling and walls of the Mellieha Sanctuary of Our Lady are undergoing major restoration thanks to funding by Bank of Valletta.
The work is being handled by Atelier del Restauro.
The sanctuary is one of the oldest churches in Malta. It was originally a natural cave that was then enlarged and hewn in an elliptical shape.
The restoration project involves two phases. The first phase, which has been completed, focused on the original paintings on the ceiling of this cave. These paintings date back to the late 1500’s. The ceiling features The Eternal Father in the centre, with the upper part of the walls featuring a multitude of bishops.
During the second phase, works will focus on the titular painting, which represents Our Lady with Baby Jesus in her arms, and is very probably a painting of the XIV century.
Experts will carry oout investigations into whether there is an older painting underneath.
Works carried on the painting on the ceiling feature a series of bishops. It is believed that they might represent a meeting held in the 5th Century AD by the Melivetan Council in North Africa. It is said that these bishops stopped in Malta and among them, there were Sylvanus, bishop of Malta at the time and also St Augustine.
The sanctuary was very popular on pilgrimage routes in the past. It was extended and modified several times between the 17th and 19th century through funding by several benefactors that included Grand Masters Wignacourt, Rafael Cotoner and Pinto.
The original painting of the bishops was painted against a gilded ceiling by an unknown artist. The gilded ceiling was over-painted with a cloudy sky with the Eternal Father in the centre. This painting is dated towards the end of the 18th century and is almost a perfect replica of a painting found at the St Helen Parish Church in Birkirkara and attributed to renowned Maltese artist Rocco Buhagiar.
The paintings underwent several other restoration interventions, namely one undertake by Maltese artist Francesco Zahra (1710-1773) and the last documented restoration intervention, by restorer Samuel Bugeja in the early 1970’s.