Heritage Malta is displaying the recently restored painting Judith and Holofernes, by Valentin de Boulogne, in the Contemporary Hall of the National Museum of Fine Arts in South Street, Valletta, where it will remain on view until 4 September.

At the end of September, it will be on show in the Caravaggisti Hall on the upper floor of the Museum, which is being refurbished.

The painting was bought from a Roman collection by Vincenzo Bonello, Curator of Arts in 1926. It was first displayed at the National Museum and in 1974 transferred to the National Museum of Art.

The painting is based on the Biblical story of the Jewish widow, Judith, who seduces the Asyrian General Holofernes, then beheads him while he is drunk. Valentin’s painting is one of several on the subject, which has also been painted by, among others, Donatello, Botticelli, Titian, Gustav Klimt and Caravaggio.

In March 2006 it was taken to the Paintings Conservation Department at Heritage Malta’s Conservation Division at Bighi in Kalkara for restoration. The delicate work was carried out by staff of Heritage Malta’s conservation division. The painting was taken back to the museum in July this year.

Well aware of the national and international significance of this painting, demanding exclusive attention, the conservation team adopted the requisite multi-disciplinary approach that enabled the comprehensive implementation of the project. The team consisted of Heritage Malta staff as well as foreign experts and Caravaggisti scholars and art historians.