The forgotten early eighteenth century passion tableaux set of Senglea

Abstract

A study from newly discovered documentary sources of the creation and use of the first set of passion tableaux used in Senglea. These were used between 1716 and 1741 for the Maundy Thursday procession organized by the Confraternity of the Holy Crucifix, until a new set of papier maché statues by Saverio Laferla were commissioned. This study includes a réportage of the expenses made for these effigies through their 25 years of existence, covering their materials, drapery, wigs and also the payments made to the people who used to mount them. The study sheds new light on a forgotten chapter of this local piece of history, revealing also the names of the people who worked on these lost effigies.