A painting of St Francis Xavier by Mattia Preti that hangs in the Chapel of the Langue of Aragon at St John’s Co-Cathedral is to be restored by Din l-Art Helwa.

The restoration will be carried out by Giuseppe Mantella, Restauro e Conservazione Opere d’ Arte.

St John’s Co-Cathedral curator Cynthia de Giorgio said the painting was in dire need of restoration as with its paint and preparatory layers had lost cohesiveness, leading to visible cracks and losses.

Ms de Giorgio said this was an important painting in Mattia Preti’s career in Malta.

In 1658 Grand Master Martin de Redin commissioned Preti, who was still in Naples, to produce a painting depicting St Francis Xavier as this saint was born in the Kingdom of Navarre from which the Grand Master hailed.

St Francis Xavier was a Jesuit and his fame is derived from his pioneering efforts as a Roman Catholic missionary, having led an extensive mission into Asia, spreading Catholicism throughout the Far East.

In the painting, the saint is depicted in his Jesuit garb, alighting on a cloud surrounded by angels and cherubs.

St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation president Paul A Attard said that one of the major aims of the foundation was to generate revenue for the maintenance and restoration of the cathedral and its several works of art and artefacts.

Din l-Art Helwa president Martin Galea expressed satisfaction that the trust was making a concrete contribution to the preservation of works of art that needed restoration.

He praised the vast programme of restoration works the foundation was carrying out and promised future collaboration of Din l-Art Helwa.