HSBC CEO Mr Geoffrey Fichte visited the Church of Our Lady of Victory, Valletta this week on the occasion of the 60th Anniversary of Din l-Art Ħelwa and admired the work the organisation has done to restore the church and keep it in tip top condition.  The HSBC Malta Foundation had sponsored the conservation of the unique 18C Alessio Erardi ceiling between 2004 and 2019 which was carried out by conservators of the Courtauld Institute of Art, London.   

Erardi’s painted ceiling, illustrated in a new panel interpreting the project, celebrates the life of the Blessed Virgin and is perhaps the greatest treasure of Valletta’s first church built by Grand Master de Valette to celebrate the end of the Great Siege.

‘The ceiling was almost lost through neglect and water infiltration’ says Simone Mizzi, in charge of the project for Din l-Art Ħelwa.  ‘We are grateful to the HSBC Malta Foundation for its generous support over many long years which allowed us to save this unique national treasure and bring it back to its full glory’.  

 Geoffrey Fichte said ‘The HSBC Malta Foundation is proud to been a steadfast partner to Din l‑Art Ħelwa—providing both financial backing and volunteer manpower for heritage, cultural, and educational projects such as this’.  Signing the ‘Victory Book’ at the church, he congratulated Din l-Art Ħelwa for the work done during the last sixty years.