Within the grandeur of St John's Co-Cathedral in Valletta stands a remarkable marble sculpture, The Baptism of Christ, a masterpiece that carries with it a poignant legacy of loss, tribute, and artistic brilliance.

The story begins in 1666, when Malta’s most celebrated Baroque sculptor, Melchiorre Gafà, embarked on creating an ambitious bronze altarpiece depicting the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Tragically, Gafà’s promising career was cut short when he died in a foundry accident in Rome before completing the piece.

For decades, the project remained unfinished - until 1703, when Gafà’s only known pupil, Giuseppe Mazzuoli, revived it. Choosing marble over bronze, Mazzuoli created a sculpture that paid homage to his late master while also drawing on the stylistic influences of famed Italian sculptor Alessandro Algardi. Though the final work was not an exact realisation of Gafà’s vision, some believe Mazzuoli may have incorporated elements of his mentor’s original design.

A remarkable feature of this sculpture often escapes the casual viewer: what appears to be two lifelike figures was in fact carved from a single solid block of marble. This stunning technical achievement speaks to the extraordinary skill and dedication of Mazzuoli and to the enduring influence of Melchiorre Gafà.

Today, the sculpture stands not only as a sacred artwork, but as a silent tribute, one that immortalises both the master and the pupil in Malta’s rich artistic heritage.

Did you know of this story behind the St John’s Co-Cathedral statue?