The Maltese restoration company, known as RECOOP has restored two paintings by Giuseppe Cali that are found at The Malta Chamber.

These two paintings depict Achille Camilleri, and Richard More O’Ferrall (former governor of Malta), who likely commissioned Cali for their portrait.

Apart from these two paintings, RECOOP also restored another portrait of Carlo Muscat but the painter is unfortunately unknown.

All three paintings had many layers of “grime and yellowed varnish accompanied by evident cases of planar distortions”, RECOOP explained.

Some parts of the paintings of Carlo Muscat and Richard More O’Ferrall were painted in the pigment known as bitumen. However, bitumen never really dries out completely, making it quite difficult to carry out restoration on.

RECOOP, thus had to create a specialised cleaning solution in order not to cause any further damage.

Well done on this impressive restoration!