The Collegiate Church of the Immaculate Conception in Cospicua will host a musico-literary evening to inaugurate the restoration works that were carried out on the titular statue of the Immaculate Conception, its pedestal and wooden plinth.

The original wooden statue of the Immaculate Conception is attributed to Sr Maria Dedomenico. In 1905, Abram Gatt was commissioned by the Collegiate Chapter to perform certain alterations to the statue in order that it might then be plated in silver. 

These modifications were such that the statue of Our Lady as it is known today can, to a large part, be considered the work of Abram Gatt. The silverwork was done by Ghezzi e Figli silversmiths of Milan.

Later on, the silver pedestal was made, on which the figures of the prophets Moses, Isaiah, David and Ezekiel and the symbols of the four evangelists dominate.  In the year 2005, a golden stellarju was placed upon the head of the Madonna.

After last year’s feast, the Collegiate Chapter took the decision to undertake some mild restoration and cleaning of the statue. When the procedure was begun, however, it was decided that it would be more beneficial if a full restoration was completed. 

Now, the head, hands and feet have regained the original colours and shading that they had at the beginning of the 20th century. The restoration work was entrusted to Atelier del Restauro under the direction of Valentina Lupo and Maria Grazia Zenzani. The silversmiths, Laga Company Ltd, undertook the restoration of the large halo and Emmanuel Vassallo and Carmelo DeLorenzo repaired and restored the wooden plinth.

During the musico-literary evening, Lupo will provide an explanation of the interventions undertaken on the statue. There will also be a short play, written by Joseph Galea, which will interpret the artistic thought and inspiration of Gatt; musical interludes throughout the evening will be provided by an ensemble from the St George’s Band Club under the direction of Mro Etienne Spiteri.

The event is being held today at 7.30pm. The public is invited to attend.