Special protective screens have been fitted in the picture gallery of St John’s Co-Cathedral Museum to protect valuable works of art exhibited there from the fierce glare of the sun.

Exposure to sunlight and ultra-violet rays are a major problem of museums and art galleries world wide. The screens fitted in the south-facing picture gallery have been sponsored by camilleriparismode, agents in Malta for Silent Gliss, who manufacture technologically-advanced screens and high-quality blinds and shading systems.

Paintings in the gallery include St John Baptising Christ by Matteo Perez d’Aleccio and a portrait of Grand Master Emmanuel Pinto de Fonseca by Antoine Favray, which are of important artistic and historical interest.

Curator Cynthia de Giorgio said the screens, comprising four hi-tech screening roller blinds and four fixed lunette-shaped screens, which have been fitted in the picture gallery will help to protect the priceless paintings from damage by UV rays while letting in a controlled amount of natural light. They also help maintain a constant temperature.