Fil-kappellun tal-Knisja Parrokkjali tal-Kalkara nsibu pittura li turi lill-Madonna ta’ Pompei. Din il-pittura saret fl-1896 mill-pittur rinomat Giuseppe Calì. L-artal tal-knisja preċedenti, li kien maħdum mill-marmista Taljan Mariano Russo, flimkien ma’ din il-pittura, ġew ffinanzjati mill-benefattur Antonio Bezzina.

Fortunatament din il-pittura ġiet salvata mill-qerda tat-Tieni Gwerra Dinjija wara li ttieħdet Għawdex flimkien mal-pitturi l-oħra fuq struzzjonijiet tal-Arċisqof Mons. Mikiel Gonzi. Ma’ dan l-artal hija assoċjata l-Fratellanza tal-Madonna tar-Rużarju, li ġiet amalgamata mal-fratellanzi l-oħra sa mit-twaqqif tagħha fl-1898 bħala l-Fratellanza ta’ San Ġużepp.

Matul is-snin, id-devozzjoni lejn il-Madonna tar-Rużarju kibret b’mod sinifikanti, u d-devoti kienu jixgħelu ammont sostanzjali ta’ xemgħat quddiem din il-pittura. Għalkemm il-pittura ġiet restawrata fil-passat, din għandha xi ħsara fit-tila, u l-verniċ fuq iż-żebgħa skura ferm, tant li l-pittura ddalmet b’mod konsiderevoli.

F’dawn l-aħħar jiem, l-Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara nediet proġett ġdid ta’ restawr ta’ din il-pittura. Grazzi għall-għajnuna tal-voluntiera li jaħdmu fil-Knisja, il-pittura tniżżlet minn postha u ġiet trasferita lejn il-bottega ta’ Atelier Del Restauro, fejn taħt is-superviżjoni tar-restawratriċi Valentina Lupo, beda x-xogħol meħtieġ ta’ restawr. Dan il-proġett qed isir mill-Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara b’kollaborazzjoni mall-Parroċċa San Ġużepp, il-Kalkara.

Restoration of the painting of Our Lady of Pompei in the Kalkara Parish Church

In the south transept of the Parish Church of Kalkara, there is a painting depicting Our Lady of Pompei. This artwork was created in 1896 by the renowned painter Giuseppe Calì. The altar of the previous church, crafted by the Italian marble sculptor Mariano Russo, along with this painting, were funded by benefactor Antonio Bezzina.

Fortunately, the painting was spared from destruction during World War II, after being transferred to Gozo together with the other paintings, following instructions from Archbishop Mons. Mikiel Gonzi. Associated with this altar is the Confraternity of Our Lady of the Rosary, which was amalgamated with other confraternities since its establishment in 1898 as the Confraternity of Saint Joseph.

Over the years, devotion to Our Lady of the Rosary grew significantly, with devotees lighting a substantial number of candles in front of the painting. Although the artwork was restored in the past, it shows signs of damage to the canvas and the varnish darkened, resulting in considerable obstruction of the image.

Recently, Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara launched a new restoration project for this painting. Thanks to the help of volunteers working in the church, the painting was carefully taken down, and then transferred to the workshop of Atelier Del Restauro, where restoration work has commenced under the supervision of restorer Valentina Lupo. This project is being carried out by Assoċjazzjoni Wirt il-Kalkara in collaboration with the Kalkara Parish of Saint Joseph.