Restored bronze to be relocated

The Valletta Rehabilitation Project will be requesting Heritage Malta to relocate the Pignatelli bronze (picture) from the façade of Our Lady of Victory church, in Valletta to a museum, project executive coordinator Ray Bondin said.

A replica would then be placed on the façade of the church.

Dr Bondin said the original bronze had suffered badly due to pollution and pigeon droppings and cannot be appreciated at the height that it is placed on the church façade.

The Pignatelli bronze, which represents a bust of Pope Innocenzo XII, known as Papa Pignatelli, was recently restored by the VRP.

The Italian restorer, Sante Guido, was commissioned by the VRP to do the job.

Dr Bondin said the restoration of this important bronze was part of a programme that included the restoration of major bronze sculptures over the past five years. These have included the Grand Master Vilhena monument and the Christ the King monument in Floriana, the Gavroches and Neptune monuments in Valletta and the Vilhena medallion in Mdina.

All the projects have been undertaken by the office of Dr Guido.

Dr Bondin said the VRP would continue with the project as there were a number of other important bronze busts and monuments that were crying out for attention.

The inauguration of the Pignatelli bronze will take place at the Italian Cultural Institute, in Valletta on Thursday at 6 p.m.

Dr Guido will explain the restoration process while Keith Sciberras will speak about Giuseppe Mazzuoli, the sculptor who made the bust, and the historical background of this important Roman baroque sculpture.

A member of the Pignatelli family will be present.

The bust will be displayed in the hall to be viewed by those attending.