AX Group has launched the conservation of three 17th-century paintings by Mattia Preti located within the Chapel of Saint Peter ad Vincula, also known as the Rosselli-Massa Chapel, at the Jesuits’ Church in Valletta.
The conservation initiative was formally launched during an event inaugurated by Hon. Owen Bonnici, Minister for the National Heritage, the Arts and Local Government. Addresses were delivered by Denise Xuereb, Director of Construction and Development at AX Group, Dr David Camilleri, President of the Jesuits’ Church Foundation, and Rev. Nicholas Doublet SJ, Rector of the Jesuits’ Church.
The paintings form part of a Petrine cycle commissioned in 1662 by Pietro Rosselli and his wife Alusietta Massa for their family chapel. Depicting key moments from the life and martyrdom of Saint Peter, the works include Liberation of Saint Peter (main altarpiece), The Martyrdom of Saint Peter (lunette), and The Meeting of Saints Peter and Paul before Martyrdom (lunette). Conceived specifically for the Rosselli-Massa Chapel, the paintings have formed an integral part of the church’s artistic and devotional setting for generations.
The conservation works have been entrusted to the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation and will be carried out in line with established conservation principles, focusing on safeguarding the material integrity of the paintings while restoring their visual clarity and ensuring they can continue to be experienced in their original setting.Addressing those present, Denise Xuereb said that the agreement represents an investment of over €130,000 dedicated to the conservation of works by Mattia Preti, contributing to the preservation of a legacy that forms part of Malta’s cultural heritage. She noted that conservation requires a careful and respectful approach, ensuring that artworks of this age remain accessible to the public and preserved for future generations.
The sponsorship builds directly on AX Group’s recent involvement in the restoration of the Jesuits’ Church. Through AX Construction, the Group was responsible for the extensive restoration of the church in recent years, carried out in collaboration with the Jesuits’ Church Foundation and the Restoration and Preservation Directorate. These works covered the main church, the Oratory of the Immaculate Conception, the Onorati Oratory and the sacristy, and included structural repair, architectural conservation and the careful recovery of historic decorative elements.
The Rosselli-Massa legacy also extends beyond the Jesuits’ Church. The family’s historic residence in Valletta, Casa Rosselli-Massa, is today home to Rosselli – AX Privilege, a boutique hotel restored by AX Construction. As part of that project, AX Group also supported the restoration of the Rosselli-Massa family portraits, now displayed within the property, further reinforcing the connection between the family’s heritage and its present-day context.
The conservation of the Mattia Preti paintings represents a natural continuation of AX Group’s long-term commitment to heritage, extending its focus from architectural restoration to the preservation of artistic patrimony. Through this initiative, the Group is contributing to the safeguarding of artworks that have formed part of the Jesuits’ Church for centuries, ensuring they remain accessible to the community and preserved for generations to come.
