A history of interventions on Renaissance paintings in Malta

Abstract

The main aim of this dissertation is to investigate the history of interventions on Renaissance paintings in Malta. Hence, it seeks to analyse the hidden aspects of paintings by investigating the physical signs on Renaissance paintings that were present on the Maltese Islands by the end of the sixteenth century as well as decipher the technical analysis undertaken on these works. The study of marks and labels on Renaissance paintings specifically and especially to Renaissance paintings on Malta has often been overlooked. Moreover, there is no one study that discusses and analyses marks and labels, workshop practices and the revelations of restoration interventions that focuses on the Renaissance paintings that were present on Malta by the sixteenth century all together. Therefore, this study tries to fill part of the lacunae that exist relating to the Renaissance paintings on the Maltese Islands.