President of Malta George Vella visited the restoration and preservation project of the paintings depicting the Great Siege by Perez d’Allecio, in the Throne Room in the Presidential Palace, Valletta.
“Today, we are acknowledging the result of the work, dedication, and perseverance of a group of restorers, including students, both Maltese and foreigners, who worked together for many years on such an ambitious project,” stated the President of Malta.
Five years of work and commitment on a visual account of what happened just over 450 years ago in our country.
During a speech on the occasion, President George Vella spoke about, amongst others, the challenges faced during this restoration project, including technical ones requiring the restorers working on this work of art to clearly understand the interventions made in the past.
Noting that this project is one of the first carried out by the University of Malta, the President hoped that it would also be another one in a long-running series where “the very precious academic and intellectual resources of our country give a much, much stronger contribution to the strengthening of the common good.”
On behalf of the people of Malta, the President expressed his appreciation for everything that the University’s research fund has managed to finance and support over time.
The President appealed to “not forget our responsibility to continue to look after it by following its conservation state and to continue to guarantee that it can be enjoyed by the people.”
He concluded by saying that all this requires an education process, especially among children and youths, in terms of more exposure to all our country’s cultural heritage, as part of our formation as Maltese citizens; we should be proud of our identity and culture.
Photos: OPR
