The paintings in the Parish Church, Museum and filial churches of Naxxar

Abstract

This study is concerned with the paintings in the Naxxar Parish Church, adjoining Museum and filial churches. A number of related aspects are brought into this research and analysed: such as the artist/s who produced the works, the artistic merits and qualities of the paintings, historical background; when and why they were produced, together with a report concerning the actual state of preservation and condition of these works. An important element refers to the origins of certain works particularly those housed in the church museum. Another primary concern of the study is to establish the artistic and historical contexts of the Maltese Islands to which these paintings belong. The Via Crucis at the Naxxar Parish church has been discussed in particular detail by a number of Maltese art historians. It is pertinent to say that this Via Crucis happens to be one of the most important of its kind in the Maltese Islands and although much has already been written about it, the artistic merits of some of these 'Stations of the Cross' need to be highlighted. The minor works however will also be considered for the purposes of this study. Naxxar festa programs and other more credited texts concerning the artistic heritage of the village parish church have been published throughout the years. As a result we have some reliable information on a number of paintings. One of my objectives is to make a study which takes a wider overview thus placing each painting into its context. My research includes primary and secondary sources. The primary sources are the works themselves, the Naxxar Parish archives and the Cathedral archives in Mdina. The latter sources serve to determine the historical background of the works and other relevant details, possibly to get to know who produced them. Most of the documents used are in Latin and old Italian, and although minor problems were encountered when deciphering some handwriting, a number of texts had to be translated for me by competent persons. The secondary sources consisted of publications which had been produced over the years and which were relevant to my subject of study.