Restoration of Street Shrine dedicated to the Assumption of Our Lady, in Mqabba
Devotional niches or shrines linked to the Roman Catholic faith are a familiar sight throughout Malta and appear in both urban and rural areas. Located at Triq il-Parroċċa on the façade of a house, this street shrine features a statue of the Assumption with angels and is believed to have been possibly made by Marjanu Gerada. Another belief is that it might have been inspired by a painting in a chapel at Ħal Farruġ.1 2 From the diary of Toni Ellul (n.d., as cited in Farrugia, 1999), the niche is described to be a site of devotion especially during and after World War One. A commemorative plaque under the niche also shows the date 1878.
The Restoration Process
The cleaning of biological growth started from the uppermost part of the street shrine and proceeded gradually down to the lowest point of the pedestal. Cleaning tests (mechanical and chemical) were carried out to identify the most efficient and least invasive method to be used. The cleaning was mostly done mechanically, using soft water and nylon brushes. On the flaking paint, hand-cleaning tools such as surgical blades were required. Chemical treatments were also needed in specific areas to remove persistent paint deposits. Once the flaking paint was removed and the required plastic repairs carried out, a transparent velatura (a thin limewash) finish was applied to protect the stone surface.
References
- Farrugia, G. (1999). Storja tan-niċeċ fl-Imqabba.
- Farrugia, G. (2012). Il-knisja tal-Vitorja. Festa titulari Sant’Andrija, Luqa, 2012, 161, 163.