A unique opportunity! Here’s your chance to view ‘The Set of Tapestries’ at St John’s Co-Cathedral in Valletta
The last time they were displayed was during Pope St John Paul II’s visit to Malta in 1990.
The last time they were displayed was during Pope St John Paul II’s visit to Malta in 1990. St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation has just announced that ‘The Set of Tapestries’ will be exhibited at St John’s Co-Cathedral, for a limited time, from the 5th of May to the 24th of June under the exhibition title ‘A Gift of Glory’.
An extensive and complex restoration process at De Wit Laboratories in Belgium, which has lasted 16 years, has been finalised and the set of tapestries will now be displayed for the first time ever since Pope St John Paul II’s visit to Malta in 1990.
Most of the tapestries, which were created in Brussels by weaver Judocus De Vos and based on cartoons by renowned artist Peter Paul Rubens, are true works of European art because of their elaborate designs and use of pure silk and wool.
Commissioned by the Grand Master Ramon y Perellos, the set consists of 29 pieces admiring the intricate details that depict the Triumph of the Roman Catholic Church and scenes from the life of Christ and the twelve apostles.
Due to the deterioration in their condition over time, which resulted in multiple open seams and the loss of the silk threads, the repair process was difficult and time-consuming. The tapestries were meticulously repaired and cleaned, and the original hues and patterns were brought back to life.
The St. John's Co-Cathedral Foundation, which is committed to safeguarding and advancing the cultural heritage of this distinctive UNESCO World Heritage site, provided funding for the restoration project.
St John's Co-Cathedral Foundation
The tapestries will be hung in the Main Nave of the St John’s Co-Cathedral giving visitors a rare opportunity to see these incredible tapestries while also appreciating their grandness and historical and religious significance.
Undoubtedly, the exhibition will draw art lovers from all over the world, so, if you’re one of them, mark your calendars because this will be a highlight in Malta's cultural calendar!
Don’t miss out on this chance to see a historical piece of art in person.