Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1480753
maltatoday | SUNDAY • 2 OCTOBER 2022 4 CULTURE 400-year-old frescoes discovered during restoration works at Grand Master's Palace A cycle of fresco paintings that date back to the rule of Grand Master Alof de Wignacourt (1601 – 1622) have been dis- covered during the restoration works currently ongoing at the Grand Master's Palace in Val- letta. Prior to this discovery, the frescoes had only been known to exist by word of mouth. The frescoes were found on the uppermost parts of the walls of the bedroom that Grand Mas- ters used during the summer months. They were revealed up- on the removal of an early 18th century canvas painting cycle for conservation purposes. No attributions have yet been assigned to the frescoes, but they could possibly be the work of Le- onello Spada (1576 – 1622) who was responsible for the decora- tion of three other rooms in the palace at the time of Grand Mas- ter Wignacourt. he fresco remains are thought to date back to this period since Alof de Wignacourt's coat of arms features prominently in them. Each fresco is separated from the adjoining one by a pair of painted Doric columns and features a putto standing on a balustrade, alternately holding the eight-pointed cross, a cor- onet, a cross and a fleur-de-lys. During the rule of Grand Master Jean Paul Lascaris de Castellar (1636 – 1657), some modifica- tions were made in the lower register, with the introduction of the Lascaris coat of arms on a different decorative background. The frescoes will be consoli- dated and conserved by Heritage Malta, the agency whose portfo- lio includes the Grand Master's Palace and its ambitious resto- ration project. His Excellency the President of Malta, George Vella, was today briefed about this discovery by Heritage Mal- ta's top management, during one of his regular visits to the Grand Master's Palace – which houses his offices – to be brought up to speed with the latest works. The Grand Master's Palace restoration will cost approxi- mately €28 million in total, with the initial phase being co-fi- nanced by the European Union as part of the European Fund for Regional Development. The subsequent phase, at a cost of around €18 million, is being financed by the Maltese government. The initial phase is expected to be completed by the end of this year, with the en- tire project being ready by 2025. This is Heritage Malta's most ex- tensive project to date.