A centre dedicated to the life, work and legacy of Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, housed in a wing adjacent to the oratory of St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta, has been inaugurated, making it the latest in a series of ongoing rehabilitation and restoration works taking place at the historical site, under the leadership and expertise of architectural firm AP Valletta.
The centre, which is spread over two levels, offers viewers the opportunity to witness the two iconic works by Caravaggio that have remained in Malta up close.
On the ground floor, interactive displays provide information on the history of St Jerome Writing, a painting completed by the artist in 1607 for Ippolito Malaspina, who was a member of the Order the Knights of St John. Visitors can watch a brief audiovisual documentary that narrates the artist’s life, career, artistic achievements and production during his stay in Malta.
On the first floor, titled Face to Face, visitors can learn all about Caravaggio’s largest and most significant painting, The Beheading of St John the Baptist, which was commissioned as an alter-piece and finished in 1608 for what was then known as the Conventual Church of St John.
Life-size digital projections reveal details and often-overlooked facets of the masterpiece that are hard to notice when viewed from the oratory inside the Co-Cathedral.
In another area on this floor, displays about the artist’s creative process and scientific studies about his brushwork and use of the chiaroscuro technique offer an insightful and educational window into his artistic genius.
The centre’s completion forms part of a wider rehabilitation and extension project for St John’s Co-Cathedral, notably an extension of the its museum, expected to be finalised by 2025.
Photography: St John’s Co-Cathedral
