The St. Paul Polyptych at the Cathedral Museum Mdina, Malta

Abstract

A polyptych restored to its former splendour by Samuel Bugeja is now dominating one of the halls in the Cathedral Museum, Mdina. The polyptych is made up of a main panel and ten smaller pieces, three of which make up the predella. The word polyptych means "many folds" as the lateral pieces fold on to the main panel. The latter depicts St. Paul enthroned in majesty, sword in one hand, his letters bound in vellum in the other. Eight panels are narrative scenes from the life of the Saint. They respectively convey animately: the conversion, the baptism, Paul before King Agrippa and Festus, the shipwreck and departure from our Island, the shaking of the viper into the fire, healing the father of Publius, the raising of Eutychus from the dead in Treas (Acts Ch. 20, L. 9), the beheading and burial. Another panel, in the form of a triptych and part of the predella, represents St. Peter in glory flanked by St. Agatha and St. Catherine of Alexandria. Of special artistic importance is the last panel crowning the polyptych with the Madonna enthroned surrounded with choirs of angels playing on musical instruments.