PA donates more funds for d’Aleccio paintings restoration
The Planning Authority has donated €75,000 towards the restoration of the historically important d’Aleccio paintings of the Great Siege in the Grand Council Chamber of the palace in Valletta. The authority had also donated €75,000 towards this project in 2020.
The donation was made to the Research, Innovation & Development Trust (RIDT) of the University of Malta.
The €300,000 project is being carried out by the Department of Conservation and Built Heritage within the University of Malta and Heritage Malta.
The paintings, which line the chamber, offer a unique – and historically accurate – depiction of the Siege of 1565.
They were commissioned by Grand Master Fra Jean de Cassiere (1572-1581) who invited artist Matteo Perez d’Aleccio to Malta in 1577.
Using eyewitness accounts and written reports, d’Aleccio created a narrative sequence of the siege across a series of 12 scenes.
Oliver Magro, executive chairperson at the Planning Authority said the authority was proud of its association with this restoration project.
"Our sponsorship of €145,000 towards the restoration of these magnificent wall paintings will ensure that this national treasure will be enjoyed by future generations.