The restoration of the statue of St Andrew, situated in the fishermen’s quarters of picturesque Xlendi bay in Gozo, is nearing completion after months of careful work, the Department of Information said yesterday.

The work, which began in September, involved the removal of various layers of cement and paint in an attempt to expose the original features of the sculpture. This phase of the work revealed what is thought to be the original appearance of the statue.

It appears that the oldest coating applied to the statue consisted of a transparent oil-based rendering on the figure of the saint and a reddish-brown rendering on the cross – not the white layer with which the statue had been covered for some years. The restorers have thus found matching paints to give the statue its original appearance of 120 years ago.

Extensive areas of badly weathered parts have now been completely repaired, the stone has been consolidated and a final protective layer of specialised colour paint has been applied.

The final phase of the statue’s restoration should be concluded in the coming weeks.

Although the statue and its limestone pedestal have been periodically rendered with plaster and/or paint layers, this was the first time that intensive restoration work has been carried out.

The statue was unveiled in June 1882 by the then Bishop of Gozo, Mgr Giovanni Maria Camilleri. St Andrew is, of course, the patron saint of fishermen.

The restoration is being carried out by employees of the Projects and Development Department of the Gozo Ministry together with Munxar local council, who are responsible for Xlendi Bay.