Anton Inglott’s Sacred Heart of Jesus painting has been restored following a major conservation project carried out by Prevarti with the support of the HSBC Malta Foundation.

The painting, which is part of the Malta Society of Arts’ permanent collection, will now be on display at the Chapel at Palazzo de La Salle, the MSA’s seat in Valletta.

Inglott painted Sacred Heart of Jesus on plywood during the Second World War.

It had stirred controversy at the time due to his portrayal of Christ as a stylised and dark-skinned figure, with his heart replaced by an abstract flood of light.

The painting’s consecration ceremony was postponed indefinitely, and it was relegated to a storage space in the Society’s basement.

It was ultimately rejected in favour of a commission from Inglott’s close friend, Emvin Cremona, who painted a more literal, and therefore more conventional, version of the Sacred Heart.

The two Sacred Heart paintings are now on display in the MSA’s Chapel, positioned symbolically at opposite ends of the space.

The conservation process involved meticulous cleaning and stabilisation of the painting, including the removal of discoloured varnish and accumulated surface deposits.

This allowed Inglott’s original colour palette and expressive treatment of light to re-emerge after decades of obscurity.

Speaking at the unveiling of the restored painting, President of Malt Myriam Spiteri Debono praised such preservation and conservation initiatives, stating that they reflect the development of art over the years.

“This restoration has allowed us to rediscover Inglott’s original artistic intent, particularly his innovative use of light,” remarked Pierre Bugeja, Head of Restoration and Founder of Prevarti. “It represents an important step in preserving a significant work within Malta’s artistic and cultural heritage.”

“We would like to thank the Malta Society of Arts for the opportunity to contribute towards the restoration of this national project – a unique work of Maltese modern art housed within the Society’s historic Valletta premises,” said Manfred Galdes, Chairman of HSBC Bank Malta.

“This initiative goes beyond conservation; it is an act of preserving a vital chapter of Malta’s modern cultural history. We are proud to have supported it and look forward to participating in similar projects in the future.”

Roderick Camilleri, Acting President of the Malta Society of Arts, described Inglott’s work as a landmark of contemporary sacred art in Malta.

“Its restoration and renewed presentation reaffirm the Society’s ongoing commitment to cultural stewardship and to safeguarding our artistic legacy for future generations.”

Photos: Malta Society of Arts