Replica replaces Christ effigy on St John's façade

A bronze replica of Alessandro Algardi's high relief of Christ the Saviour has been unveiled on the façade of St John's Co-Cathedral, in Valletta.

It was blessed by Mgr Philip Calleja, chairman of the St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation, and by Mgr Lawrence Mifsud, Pro-Rector of St John's Co-Cathedral.

The replica replaces the original which will shortly find its place at the Co-Cathedral Museum.

St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation had commissioned Funderija Artistika of Luqa under the management of Joseph Chetcuti, to produce the copy.

The original bronze half figure of Christ the Saviour by Algardi consisted of a head, bust, hands and drapery.

It was commissioned by Fra Alessandro Zambeccari, a knight of the Order of the Knights of St John, in the mid 1630s, as a gift to the Order and to Malta in order to get a promotion in the Order of St John.

The half figure was placed in a cornice of a 13-metre high structure, situated close to the watefront at the Grand Harbour, described by travellers to be in the proximity of the church of the Virgin of Liesse.

Its position made it visible for everyone on board the Order's vessels, asking the Lord's blessing when leaving the harbour for dangerous sea patrols or thanking the Lord for a safe return.

Apparently, this structure was demolished in 1712 and the bronze was placed on the façade of a new church, dedicated to the Saviour, which church was built by Grand Master Perellos in Barriera Wharf.

In 1853, the half figure of Christ the Saviour was placed on the façade of St John's Co-Cathedral but by this time it had lost all of the original parts, except its bronze head.

Maltese artist Giuseppe Hyzler was responsible for adding the drapery out of hammered copper.

Due to its high position on the pediment of the façade, it was quite unreachable for maintenance.

On the initiative of St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation and the Valletta Rehabilitation Project a preservation and intervention plan was executed by Sante Guido Restauri Opere d'Arte.

It was later decided that the original bronze and copper figure should be conserved and exhibited indoors.

The Cathedral Foundation said Algardi's work plays a role of great importance in Roman Baroque sculpture in Malta.

Historical research revealed many details previously unknown and the restoration process provided a great opportunity to increase knowledge about materials and chemical processes.