HELP RAISE FUNDS FOR THE RESTORATION OF OUR LADY OF VICTORY CHURCH, VALLETTA

The 12 Heritage Saved Limited Edition prints by Kenneth Zammit Tabona are divided into 2 sets of 6. The Collection has been made possible through the generosity of Banif Bank (Malta) plc. The price for Set A and Set B is of € 120 for each set of 6 signed limited edition prints.
For Members of Din l-Art Helwa the price for each set of 6 is € 100. All prints are accompanied by their adhesive narrative of interpretation.
We regret the contents of the sets, being signed limited editions, cannot be exchanged.
Please compile the form below if you wish to acquire a set and send it together with remittance made out to Din l-Art Helwa, 133 Melita Street, Valletta.
Or email your request oninfo@dinlarthelwa.orgThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

I wish to acquire ______________ number of Set A
I wish to acquire ______________ number of Set B
I wish to acquire ______________ number of Sets A and B together

NAME ______________________________________
I am/I am not a member of Din l-Art Helwa and my remittance of ______is enclosed
Tel No. ______________________________________
Email________________________________________

DIN L-ART HELWA, 133 Melita Street, Valletta
Tel Nos. 21220358/21225952
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http://www.dinlarthelwa.org

St Agatha’s Tower and Grand Master Jean Paul Lascaris
de Castellar

St Agatha’s Tower, also known as the Red Tower, was built in 1647 to strengthen coastal defences in the north of the island during the rule of Grand Master Jean Paul Lascaris de Castellar, a French Knight of Provence who ruled Malta from 1636 to 1657. A marble plaque over its main entrance shows it was dedicated to St Agatha in 1649 proclaiming the tower as symbolic of her strength.

St Agatha was a Christian martyr who was venerated as a figure of force against invasion, the plague and other disease. She was tortured by her Roman lover, the Roman Prefect Quintanus who had her breasts amputated but she was cured by a miracle and survived further torture till she died in prison in AD 253. She is depicted in art with a platter holding her amputated parts. The Grand Master and his page are standing before the saint below the tower dedicated to her..

Din l-Art Helwa, holds this tower in guardianship and restored it between 1999 and 2001 after it had fallen into a grave state of dilapidation. It is open daily to the public and there are marvellous views over the Gozo Comino straits from its roof.

Lunzjata Fountain, GOZO, AND the Most Noble Hercules Martin Testaferrata, Baron of Gomerino

The elegant stone fountain at Lunzjata Valley in Gozo, known as the Great Fountain, is witness of a gracious bygone age and was built at the personal wish of Grand Master Ramond Perellos y Roccaful to mark the spot where underground streams met and gushed out into the valley.

The Grand Master appointed the Most Noble Baron Hercules Martin Testaferrata as Rector of the benefice of Lunzjata. According to the inscription carved over the fountain, he built the beautiful niche over the well and it was inaugurated in 1698. He married the heiress Veneranda Abela and both their coats of arms adorn the painting.

The restoration of the fountain was completed by Din l-Art Helwa in 2007 as part of its programme for the conservation of important national landmarks.

GRAND MASTER ANTONIO EMANUEL DE VILHENA AND THE LION STATUE, VALLETTA

Grand Master Antonio Emanuel de Vilhena, a Portuguese Knight of royal descent ruled in Malta from 1722 to 1736. He was a wealthy, respected, and firm Portuguese aristocrat of royal descent. The inscription on his magnificent funerary monument in St John’s Co-cathedral affirms this with the words: “He was not elected but born a prince”.

The Grand Master, who built the magnificent Fort Manoel, the Manoel Theatre in Valletta and Vilhena Palace in Mdina is seen before the lion statue that was erected to celebrate his rule. His page, rod and pilier decorate the frame and another magnificent lion lies at his feet.

The lion statue stands on a stone pedestal at the corner of Archbishop St and East St in Valletta and bears the Grand Master’s heraldic coat of arms. The statue was restored by Din l-Art Helwa in 2009 as part of its programme for the conservation of the statues and niches of Valletta.

GRAND MASTER ALOF DE WIGNACOURT AND HIS FIRST TOWER

Fra Alof de Wignacourt ruled in Malta as Grand Master of the Order of St John from 1601 to 1622. At his own expense he built a series of watchtowers to defend the coast. The first tower, named after him, was built at St Paul’s Bay and this is the oldest defence post still extant in Malta today. The Grand Master, who was devoted to St Paul, laid the first stone on the 10th February 1610, the feast day of the patron saint and day of his shipwreck.

The Grand Master is seen arriving to celebrate the feast of the apostle amongst pomp and splendor, together with the bishop and local dignitaries, and there is much firing of cannon from the roof of the tower.

Wignacourt Tower was first restored by Din l-Art Helwa in 1975 and again in 1994. The tower hosts an exhibition of the fortifications of the Knights as well as a small museum displaying the living quarters of its garrison. From its roof it enjoys marvelous views across the bay to St Paul’s Island. It requires ongoing restoration and Din l-Art Helwa continues to maintain it until today.

ST ROQUE’S CHAPEL, ZEBBUG, AND TOMMASO AND CATERINA VASSALLO

Tommaso and Caterina Vassallo, a couple from Zebbug built the chapel to St Roque in 1592 as an offering invoking the saint to save their village from the plague. Zebbug was spared. St Roque was a pilgrim who refused a family fortune and travelled through France and Italy tending to the sick. He survived the plague and so is the patron saint of those suffering from infectious diseases. He is depicted in art showing his wounds and accompanied by a dog who fed him bread when he was ill.

Both Caterina and Tommaso are wearing the pilgrim’s shell and St Roque is seen being carried in procession on his feast day. The ship that brought the plague to Malta is seen in the background.

The chapel of St Roque is the only chapel in Zebbug still in its original form. Din l-Art Helwa restored it in 1980 and today it hosts a collection of memorabilia of well known Maltese personalities from Zebbug. It is open every Sunday morning and every Wednesday afternoon.

ST PAUL’S ISLAND AND A GALLEY CAPTAIN OF THE KNIGHTS

In 1576, Marco de Maria, Captain Navigator of the Galley Squadron of the Order of the Knights of St John, (Pilota Reale of the Capitana or Flagship) tricked four Turkish galleys by cleverly luring them onto the reef at St Paul’s Island while his own ship passed safely through after having shifted its ballast to lift its keel.

Grand Master La Cassière awarded the Island of St Paul to his captain in recognition of his bravery, but de Maria’s son, Giovanni, and later his nephew, Narduccio, both eminent Galley Captains of the Order died leaving no children, so the island reverted back to the Order.

The Apostle Paul is said to have been shipwrecked on the island on his way to Rome in AD 60 and converted Malta to Christianity. The statue to St Paul was erected there in 1845 as a symbol of the island’s faith. Exposed to the elements, it suffered much damage and was restored by Din l-Art Helwa in 1996 and again in 2007 as part of its programme for the conservation of national landmarks.