BOV Chief Operations visits Prevarti Laboratories to witness
conservation works
Bank of Valletta's Chief Operations Officer, Ernest Agius,
recently visited Prevarti Laboratories to observe the final stages
of restoration on two significant artworks by celebrated Maltese
artist Gianni Vella. The paintings — St John Baptising Christ
in the River Jordan and Abraham Genuflecting in Front of the Three
Angelic Visitors — are the last in a series of four
restoration works being supported by the Bank through its Corporate
Social Responsibility (CSR) programme. These paintings are set to
return to the Holy Trinity Parish Church in Marsa upon
completion.
This conservation project forms part of Bank of Valletta's
commitment to safeguarding Malta's cultural and artistic
heritage. In August 2024, the first two paintings — God
Breathing Life into Adam and The Sending of the First Apostles
— were successfully restored and reinstalled at the Marsa
parish, to the delight of the local community.
Bank of Valletta continues to place culture at the heart of its CSR
strategy, supporting projects that honour the past while enriching
communities in the present. “These works are more than
artistic treasures — they are part of our collective memory
and identity,” said Ernest Agius. “Bank of Valletta is
proud to have played an important role in bringing them back to
life and seeing them back home in the community of Marsa. This
project is a tangible example of how public and private sectors can
come together to protect what matters most for our country's
heritage.”
Led by Pierre Bugeja, founder and senior conservator at Prevarti
Laboratories, the restoration team carried out delicate cleaning to
remove layers of discoloured varnish and overpainting that had
dulled the original hues and hidden finer details. Structural work
was also necessary on both canvases, which had suffered from ageing
and previous interventions. During the process, intricate
brushwork, rich colour tones, and golden highlights were carefully
revealed and consolidated, respecting the integrity of
Vella's original composition.
“Restoring art of this calibre is a delicate balance between
science and soul,” explained Pierre Bugeja. “With the
support of Bank of Valletta, we are preserving Gianni Vella's
legacy and seeing these works of art returned to the sacred space
for which they were originally intended. Once reinstalled, the full
ensemble of Gianni Vella's four paintings will once again
adorn Holy Trinity Parish Church in Marsa”.
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