Carmelite Priory, Mdina
One of the projects forming part of the extensive restoration works, that were carried out at the Carmelite Priory in Mdina over the last three years, was the high altar-painting of the Annunciation of the Virgin and its reredos. Both works were entrusted to ReCoop. The reredos was designed by Pietro Paolo Troisi in 1712 and sculpted in wood by Ignazio Portelli in 1717. The painting, which measures 316 × 266 cm., was executed by the renowned Maltese artist Stefano Erardi in his bottega in Valletta some time before 1677. Mario Buhagiar and Stanley Fiorini, in their book Mdina, the Cathedral City of Malta (1996), describe it as “one of the great masterpieces of Maltese art of the seventeenth century.”
The painting will be the focus of an event that will be held in the Carmelite Church, Mdina, on Monday, 22nd March 2010, at 7.00 p.m. Baroque art expert Dr Keith Sciberras, Senior Lecturer at the University of Malta, will give an artistic appraisal of the painting, while restorer Roderick Abela will highlight the restoration process of the painting. Rev Dr Charlò Camilleri O.Carm., Director of the Carmelite Insitute Malta and Lecturer at the Univeristy of Malta, will discuss the painting from a theological viewpoint. Jacob Portelli will perform some musical excerpts on the harp.
The event is part of the celebrations that are being held at the Mdina Carmelite Chruch to mark the feast of Annunciation of the Virgin, titular of the Church and Priory.
Bħala parti miċ-ċelebrazzjonijiet tal-festa titulari tal-Lunzjata fil-Knisja tal-Karmnu tal-Imdina, nhar it-Tnejn, 22 ta’ Marzu 2010, fis-7.00 p.m., se ssir preżentazzjoni artistika u teoloġika tal-kwadru titulari. Dr Keith Sciberras, espert fl-arti barokka u Senior Lecturer fl-Università ta’ Malta jagħmel apprezzament artisitku tal-kwadru filwaqt li P. Dr Charlò Camilleri O.Carm., Direttur tal-Istitut Karmelitan u Lecturer fl-Univeristà ta’ Malta, jippreżentah mill-aspett teoloġiku. Ir-restawratur Roderick Abela jitkellem fuq ix-xogħol li għamel fuq il-kwadru. Jacob Portelli jesegwixxi siltiet mużikali fuq l-arpa.
Il-kwadru titulari tal-Lunzjata hu xogħol tal-artist Malti Stefano Erardi, li pittru fil-bottega tiegħu fil-Belt Valletta għall-ħabta tal-1677. Mario Buhagiar u Stanley Fiorini, fil-ktieb tagħhom Mdina, the Cathedral City of Malta (1996), jiddeskrivuh bħala wieħed mill-aqwa kapulavuri tal-arti barokka Maltija ts-seklu sbatax. Sentejn ilu l-kwadru u l-gwarniċun tiegħu ġew restawarati mill-kumpanija ReCoop, bħala parti mix-xogħol estensiv ta’ restawr li sar fil-knisja u l-kunvent.