Giuseppe Cali's Apse Painting Undergoing  Restoration:

Currently undergoing an extensive restoration  intervention is the monumental painting which  decorates the main apse of the Stella Maris Parish  Church in Sliema. This painting represents the  Virgin of Stella Maris with Pope Leo XIII and is the  work of the talented and prolific Maltese artist  Giuseppe Cali` (1846 – 1930). The work, which is  painted in the artist's Romantic academic style, is  signed and dated 1889 at bottom right. In 2011,  parish priest Fr Joe Bartolo entrusted ReCoop Ltd  with this restoration, which is being directed by  Conservator Roderick Abela. The large scaffolding  for the choir and the apse was installed by the  Ministry for Resources and Rural Affairs.

During World War II, the church along with this  painting suffered severe damages. Thereafter, it  underwent three ‘restoration’ interventions. The  first was an urgent intervention undertaken by  Candido Giglio. It was again retouched by Giorgio  Preca. The painting was extensively repainted by  Raphael Bonnici Cali` in 1972 who also  documented his intervention on lower left side of  the painting. The large scale work, with the  circumference at its base measuring approximately  13m, is executed in oils on a white preparation  layer. The technique is typical of Cali’s mural  works, consisting in bold brush work, high impastos  on a harsh preparation layer. However, due to the  extensive re-painted areas, resulting in the  restoration treatment carried out by Raphael  Bonnici Cali`, the work initially spoke a different  language to that of Giuseppe Cali’s original work.

Before the onset of the current conservation  programme the paintings’ state denoted several  deterioration phenomena consisting of several  cracks, detached and flaking areas, paint loss,  dust accumulation and several visible re-painted  areas. The conservation treatment included  documentation, structural consolidation, cleaning  and integration of the preparation layers and paint  layer. The gilt frame surrounding the apse is also  currently being restored.

In 2012, ReCoop Ltd. concluded the complex  conservation treatment on the beautiful late 16th  century titular painting of the Virgin and Child with  Saints which adorned the apse. This painting will  be hung in its original place once the apse  restoration is finalised