Din l-Art Helwa restores 19th century statue

The 19th century polychrome statue of St Roque at the chapel dedicated to the pilgrim saint has been restored by Din l-Art Helwa.

The statue which stands in the niche on the eastern façade of this chapel in Birkirkara, is attributed to Vincenzo Dimech who was the leading architectural sculptor of his time in Malta, and Professor of Architecture and Sculpture in the School of Design at the University of Malta.

Din l-Art Helwa organised the restoration on the invitation of John Tonna, the chapel’s administrator and the restoration was conducted by stone conservators Ingrid Ross and James Licari, the latter from Heritage Malta, with funding from the Birkirkara council and members of the community who used of the chapel. The project was coordinated Din l-Art Helwa council member Stanley Farrugia Randon.

The statue is a traditional representation of St Roque dressed as a pilgrim, revealing the wounds of the plague on his lower limb, together with the dog who fed him.

The restoration removed layers of paint to reveal the beautiful marbled polychrome colours which the sculptor is known to have used.

St Roque survived the plague and assisted the sick throughout Europe in medieval times and it is thought the statue was erected in thanksgiving because the inhabitants of the area were spared of the disease.