Within the chapel of Palazzo de La Salle in Valletta, home to the Malta Society of Arts (MSA), is a painting that is as prized today as it was considered controversial when first presented to the MSA in 1943 by students (who attended classes there) on behalf of the artist.
The painting, titled Sacred Heart of Jesus, was painted by Anton Inglott (1915–1945) – an artist credited with introducing modern conceptions and techniques into Malta’s art scene before his untimely death at the age of 30. Decades later, it is set to be restored by conservation and restoration practice PrevArti, supported by the HSBC Malta Foundation.
Regarded as one of the foremost artists of his generation, Inglott’s works are rare and highly valued, making the restoration of the Sacred Heart an important step in safeguarding a crucial part of Malta’s cultural identity.
The conservation process will include documentation, cleaning, structural repairs and aesthetic reintegration of both the painting and its decorative frame.
Tests have shown that the painting has been affected by yellowed varnish, surface dirt, fly specks, and past retouchings, while the frame bears splits in the wood and layers of overpainting. The restoration will carefully remove these alterations, stabilise the materials, and reapply protective coatings, with the frame’s original gilding reinstated using pure gold leaf.
Roderick Camilleri, Acting President of the Malta Society of Arts, notes that the piece is a unique standout among sacred artworks from Malta’s early modern period. “With this project we are not only preserving a valuable piece of Maltese heritage but also ensuring that the public can continue to experience and be inspired by it for years to come.”
Glenn Bugeja, Head of Corporate Sustainability at HSBC Malta, adds “The restoration of Anton Inglott’s Sacred Heart is not only about conserving a work of art but also about protecting a piece of Malta’s modern cultural history. It is encouraging to see this project off to a strong start.”
Once the restoration is complete, the painting will be exhibited to the public at the Malta Society of Arts premises in Valletta, “reinforcing the Society’s role as a guardian of Malta’s cultural heritage and as a space where the public can engage directly with the nation’s artistic treasures”.
Photography courtesy of PrevArti
