A Mattia Preti painting which the Gozo Ministry bought for $400,000 (€370,000) will be publicly displayed for the first time on Wednesday as part of the island's Republic Day celebrations.
An oil on canvas painted in the 17th-century, Daniel Interpreting Nebuchadnezzar’s First Dream was purchased to be the centrepiece of the Gozo Museum being developed in Victoria through EU funding.
The €370,000 outlay - eight times the Gozo Ministry's cultural budget - had raised eyebrows among Opposition MPs at the time.
Malta's national heritage agency, Heritage Malta, also expressed scepticism, saying it would "not have considered" the purchase, had it had a say in the matter.
OPINION: Welcome home, Mattia Preti
It will be put on display free-of-charge at the ministry as part of Gozo's Republic Day celebrations, with Gozo Minister Justyne Caruana saying the island should play a part in celebrating the event.
President Marie-Louise Coleiro Preca congratulated the minister for the idea.
Celebrations in Gozo also included a classical concert based on the works of Nicolo Isouard featuring Gozitan singers and musicians.