Langue of Germany chapel to be restored

The chapel of the Langue of Germany in St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta will soon be completely restored. It will be sponsored by the Federal Foreign Office of Germany on the initiative of German Ambassador to Malta Hubert Ziegler.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, during a visit toSt John’s said the church was one of the most impressive monuments in Europe

Although in dire need of restoration, the chapel remains one of the most splendid chapels within St John’s Co-Cathedral.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel, during a visit to St John’s last January, took special interest in the chapel and commented on the overwhelming beauty of the church, saying this was one of the most impressive monuments in Europe.

St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation president Paul Attard said one of the major aims of the foundation is to generate revenue for the maintenance and restoration of works of art and artefacts.

However, he added that funds were never enough to satisfy requirements and the Ambassador’s initiative towards this project was certainly much appreciated and highly commended.

Mr Attard encouraged other entities, especially benefiting from tourism, to contribute towards the preservation of this unique and precious monument.

This restoration project will further propel the foundation’s initiative to restore the aesthetic appeal of the entire monument.

Dr Ziegler highlighted the foundation’s admirable work – for its effort to preserve this impressive edifice. The restoration will be financed through the German government’s cultural preservation programme.

The chapel is an important symbol of the two countries’ common history and of St John’s Co-Cathedral with its chapels representing various nations of Europe at the time of the Knights.

Curator Cynthia de Giorgio said this project would consist of the restoration of the elaborately carved dome and wall-carvings within the chapel, the restoration of the main altar, the altarpiece and the paintings fitted into the lunettes.

Ms de Giorgio added that the chapel had been severely deteriorated by the infiltration of rain water from the dome, which caused the erosion of some of the carvings and the irreparable loss of the gilding.

The lower strata of the walls also suffered similar damage caused by rising damp. The carvings are covered by a thick layer of dust and candlesoot deposits that accumulated over the years.

She explained that the first stage of the restoration process will consist of removing the layers of dust and candlesoot and other stubborn encrustations with appropriate cleaning solutions.

A layer of linseed oil applied during the 20th century will be removed using poultices of alkaline solutions. This will be followed by the consolidation of the loose stone carvings and mortar joints. The walls will then be prepared for regilding, adopting the same gilding process used in the 17th century. The paintings will also be restored.

The chapel of the Langue of Allemagne, as it was referred to during the time of the Knights, is the first chapel in the north aisle of the cathedral. The chapel was originally assigned to the Langue of England. It was however reassigned to the Langue of Germany in the Chapter General of 1603, when the Church of England was established.

The elaborately-decorated wall carvings were executed following the bequest of Knight Fra Christian Von Osterhausen, who bequeathed 1,200 scudi for the adornment of this chapel in his will, dated June 28, 1664.

A further sum was put forward by the Prior of Hungary, Fra Francis de Sonnemberg. The altar painting depicts the Adoration of the Magi, while the paintings fitted into the lunettes on either side of the chapel depict The Nativity of Christ and The Massacre of the Innocents executed in the 17th century by Maltese artist Stefano Erardi (1630-1716), who studied in Rome.