The painting Saints Roque, Blaise, Dominic and Nicholas of Tolentino interceding for the plague stricken was executed by Mattia Preti (1613-1699) in 1676 when Malta was ravaged by an outbreak of the plague. Measuring almost four metres high and two metres wide, this painting is one of seven works of art by the Baroque artist to adorn the Parish Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria in Żurrieq. This is not the only painting by Preti to highlight this subject. During the same period (1676-1678) Preti executed the monumental altar piece at Sarria Church in Floriana together with another four paintings portraying saints associated with the plague.

The painting shortly before it was brought down in order for conservation and restoration works to start

Several interventions were carried out on the painting throughout the years. Upon examining it, the team of conservators which worked on the painting, found it to be heavily abraded and extensively overpainted to such an extent that, in some areas, the hand of Mattia Preti has been concealed. The restoration and conservation process, which was supported by the Malta Airport Foundation, entailed the removal of discoloured varnish and layers of overpaint, including excessive highlights, to better reveal Preti’s original work of art and artistic techniques.

Close-up of the painting under normal light prior to the start of the conservation and restoration process

As part of the conservation and restoration project, the painting was dismantled from its frame to allow for the equally important treatment of the verso in order to provide sufficient stability to the canvas support.  Another important part of this process was the written and photographic documentation of the painting manufacturing technique, state of conservation, and past interventions, with the aim to leave as much textual and visual information as possible to future conservators and researchers.

You may watch our project launch video below.

The painting was inaugurated on the 10th of August 2022 at the Parish Church of Saint Catherine of Alexandria in Żurrieq. For a behind-the-scenes look at the conservation and restoration process, we invite you to watch the video below.