A trio of prestigious paintings by eminent artist Mattia Preti, housed within the Jesuit’s Church in Valletta, are set to be restored through a conservation initiative launched by AX Group.
The 17th-century paintings, located within the Chapel of Saint Peter ad Vincula – also known as the Rosselli-Massa Chapel – form part of a Petrine cycle commissioned in 1662 by Pietro Rosselli and his wife Alusietta Massa for their family chapel.
Depicting key moments from the life and martyrdom of Saint Peter, the works include Liberation of Saint Peter (main altarpiece), The Martyrdom of Saint Peter (lunette), and The Meeting of Saints Peter and Paul before Martyrdom (lunette), which have formed an integral part of the church’s artistic and devotional setting for generations.
The initiative was formally launched during an event inaugurated by Hon. Owen Bonnici, Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government. Addresses were delivered by Denise Xuereb, Director of Construction and Development at AX Group, Dr David Camilleri, President of the Jesuits’ Church Foundation, and Rev. Nicholas Doublet SJ, Rector of the Jesuits’ Church.
The conservation works have been entrusted to the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation and will be carried out in line with conservation principles, focusing on safeguarding the material integrity of the paintings, restoring visual clarity and ensuring they can continue to be experienced in their original setting.
Denise Xuereb noted how the initiative contributes to the preservation of a legacy that forms part of Malta’s cultural heritage, which “requires a careful and respectful approach, ensuring that artworks of this age remain accessible to the public and preserved for future generations.”
AX Group has been directly involved in the extensive restoration of the Jesuit’s church in recent years, in collaboration with the Jesuits’ Church Foundation and the Restoration and Preservation Directorate.
These works covered the main church, the Oratory of the Immaculate Conception, the Onorati Oratory and the sacristy, and included structural repair, architectural conservation and the careful recovery of historic decorative elements.
The Rosselli-Massa legacy also extends beyond the Jesuits’ Church. The family’s historic residence in Valletta, Casa Rosselli-Massa, is today home to Rosselli – AX Privilege, a boutique hotel that also houses Rosselli-Massa family portraits restored by the Group on display within the property.
Photography courtesy of AX Group
