Project Sponsorship – BOV-Heritage Malta Partnership

In 2018, generously supported by the Bank of Valletta, Heritage Malta commenced work on the conservation and restoration of the sumptuously decorated Gran Salon within the National Museum of Archaeology in Valletta. The Salon is located on the piano nobile of the Auberge de Provence, which was built between 1571 and 1575. Featuring richly painted murals, exquisite arabesque cycles, a musicians’ gallery and a wooden beamed ceiling, the Gran Salon was used by the Provencal Knights of the Order of St John for their business discussions, as a refectory and also as a banqueting hall. In 1826 parts of the auberge were appropriated to serve as the premises of the Malta Union Club, which is when the musician’s gallery, arabesques and Pompeiian-inspired neo-classical wall decorations were commissioned. Today, apart from being a historic artefact in its own right, the Gran Salon also houses events and temporary exhibitions that enhance Malta’s cultural life. Whilst cleaning and repointing the detached infills between the painted limestone slabs of the Gran Salon an exciting discovery was made. Behind the stocked-up alcove lay a Baroque fresco of the mythological god Neptune holding a trident, dating back to the period of the Knights of St John. Thanks to the Bank of Valletta’s ongoing assistance, Heritage Malta was able to undertake an interdisciplinary investigation to better assess and research the discovery of this early decorative scheme and eventually restore it back to its original splendour. Find out more here: https://heritagemalta.mt/news/knights-period-painting-discovered-during-bov-funded-restoration/