Change and continuity : significance and physical history in the conservation of the 16th-century Great Siege wall paintings in Valletta, Malta

Abstract

Knowledge of the physical history of the Great Siege wall paintings (1576–81) by Matteo Perez D'Aleccio in the Grand Master's Palace in Valletta, Malta, has been fundamental in understanding their current condition and the continuity between their original function and current significance. It has also directly influenced the conservation approach employed by the Department of Conservation and Built Heritage, University of Malta. Diverse bodies of evidence—including archival photographs, physical evidence of past interventions and damage, and noninvasive methods such as multispectral imaging (MSI) and in situ microscopy—were synthesized to build a cohesive narrative and inform conservation strategies. This study demonstrates how the conservation and presentation of artworks can influence their perception and interpretation, and in turn their continuing relevance to the society within which they function.