From Baroque to Modern : paintings and devotional statuary

Abstract

The Nadur parish church has a sizeable collection of paintings which, although uneven in quality, is of considerable interest to the artistic and cultural history of the island of Gozo and Maltese art in general. This assemblage results not only from the devotions of the faithful as they developed over time, but the works of art also follow the history of the building of the church in the last decade of the seventeenth century to its subsequent extensions and remodelling which continued until the early twentieth century. Seen from a stylistic point of view, they also reflect changing times and the metamorphosis of aesthetic ideas. Taken collectively, the extant paintings in the church, its two sacristies, the Chapter Hall and other surrounding rooms, reflect patterns of patronage which many times rose above the limitations imposed by the consequences of the insularity of a small island. On other occasions, the context of a parish church set in rural Gozo, with its economic restrictions and cultural deficiency, is reflected in the choice of artists. Signs of devotion were also manifested through the commissioning of devotional statues which were placed in the church for their popular cult but also taken out in processions. [Excerpt]