Algardi bronze face of Christ restored

The beautiful bronze face of Christ the King by Alessandro Algardi, which usually adorns the centre of the façade at St John's Co-Cathedral, has been restored to its original glory by the firm Sante Guido Restauri.

The work, which cost Lm8,800, was funded by the Valletta Rehabilitation Project. The bust is to be kept at St John's Museum and a copy will be installed on the cathedral's façade.

The bronze bust, originally part of a larger figure, reached Malta from Rome in 1639.

It was not originally intended for the façade of St John's but for the port. The figure carried the globe of the world in one hand while the other was raised to bless the vessels entering and leaving Grand Harbour.

In the early 18th century it was relocated and installed on the façade of a little church dedicated to Christ the Saviour built along the quay.

This church was demolished in the mid 19th century and the bust was transferred to St John's, but by this time it had lost its entire torso.

It is now the largest bronze face to be found in the world and is an important masterpiece of Roman baroque sculpture.

The conservation was entirely carried out at St John's Co-Cathedral Museum Laboratory.

It included a detailed historical study of the work, undertaken by Dr Keith Sciberras and Dr Jennifer Montagu. The outcome of the study will be presented during a seminar to be organised by the VRP.

Dr Sciberras said the face had inspired many artists.

The result of the work was yesterday shown to Prime Minister Eddie Fenech Adami and Infrastructure Minister Francis Zammit Dimech.

They also visited another important conservation project at St John's, that of two lecterns which are among the most important items of 16th century sculpture in Malta. Cast in brass, they represent Moses and the eagle of St John the Baptist.

The work is also being carried out by the firm Sante Guido Restauri. It is being financed jointly by the St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation and VRP and will cost Lm2,400.

The lecterns are probably of Flemish or French origin and were donated to the Order by Francis Duke of Lorraine in 1557 and transferred to St John's from Vittoriosa in the 1570s.

Work on Moses is almost complete and has revealed a magnificent gilded masterpiece.

Dr Sciberras is coordinating the work on behalf of Sante Guido and Ray Bondin is joint-coordinator on behalf of the VRP.

Dr Zammit Dimech said that since the VRP was set up in 1988, it had invested more than Lm1.5 million in restoration projects at the cathedral.

A substantial number were financed by the European Union, including the restoration of the cathedral's façade and ceiling and the installation of a new electricity system.

The VRP, Dr Zammit Dimech said, was also financing a number of maintenance projects, including on the floor's marble and the ceiling.

This work was being carried out by Restoration Unit employees under the direction of Ivana Farrugia, and the workers were carrying out a number of other small but important projects at the cathedral, including the replacement of windows, he said.