News | Sunday, 29 March 2009

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Vilhena portrait suffers minor gash in restoration accident

A portrait of Grand Master de Vilhena that hangs in the Presidential Palace in Valletta suffered a 15cm tear to the edge during restoration works on the Palace walls.
Heritage Malta chief executive Luciano Mule Stagno told MaltaToday the tear was at the edge, close to the frame. He said the damage was easily repairable.
The painting was taken down to restore the wall behind it since Heritage Malta is currently restoring the Palace walls. While resting against a window it fell and hit a chair.
“Though it was an accident we are taking corrective action so the incident does not repeat itself. The portrait is being transported to Bighi, where our conservators will repair the damage. Once done it will be unnoticeable,” Mule Stagno said.
Manoel de Vilhena was the 66th Grand Master of the Order of Saint John and ruled the island of Malta from 1722 to his death in 1736. The Portuguese aristocrat built the suburb of Floriana to meet the demand for housing and accommodation in Valletta. In 1731 he built the Manoel Theatre, believed to be the second oldest theatre in Europe and is still in use today.

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