Restoration work on the Crucifixion sculpture group of the St John’s Co-Cathedral Foundation has led to the exciting discovery of a thicker than expected layer of gesso that is actually concealing the true beauty of the artist’s work.

Original tests on patches of the gesso – a substance resembling chalk that is used to protect sculptures – had led the restorers to expect a much thinner layer. Now, by comparison, the familiar appearance of the work of art seems dull, and the features blunted.

The discovery is lending credence to the belief that the work is indeed by Alessandro Algardi, one of the leading artists of the 17th century who received commissions from the Pope and other influential contemporary figures. Algardi’s works are found in the Vatican as well as in other important churches in Rome and throughout Italy.

The Crucifixion sculpture group is also known as the Golgotha group. It consists of three large wooden statues of the Crucifix, The Virgin and St John the Evangelist. It came from Rome but was not made specifically for St John’s, which it reached in 1653, as a gift from Commander Fra Felicaja.

The restoration is being sponsored by the Alfred Mizzi Foundation, which is now having to dig deeper into its pockets to meet the new costs of the work, which have doubled.

The Crucifixion group was already in need of extensive restoration before the thick layer of gesso was discovered. The statues were showing signs of woodwork infestation and weakness in their supports, and the group had also lost some of its refinement and definition due to the several layers of paint applied over the years.

The restoration work is in the hands of restorers from Paul Muscat’s team at ReCoop.