The Chapel of Saint Teresa of Ávila was added to the Parish Church of the Shipwreck of St. Paul after 1730. The chapel is located to the left of the main altar. It is one of several chapels belonging to the Confraternity of Our Lady of Charity, along with the Chapel of Saint Joseph, the Chapel of Our Lady of Charity, and the Oratory of Charity, which adjoins the nave. The titular altarpiece of this chapel is adorned with refined Baroque sculptures by Rocco Buhagiar (1723–1805). The painting of Saint Teresa of Ávila is framed by a pediment decorated with large volutes and is crowned by a gilded stucco sculpture of divine rays (the “glory”) supported by putti.
Mystical Art and the Legacy of Goldsmithing in Valletta
The Chapel of Saint Teresa of Ávila is a corner of deep devotion and artistic richness, added to its original church around 1730. Under the administration of the Confraternity of the Blessed Virgin of Charity, the chapel safeguards unique treasures, such as a silver oil lamp donated by Grand Master Ramón Perellos y Roccaful (1697–1720), which bears his magistral coat of arms engraved in relief. This space is closely linked to the history of the island’s craftsmen, as Saint Helena, patroness of the Goldsmiths’ Guild (absorbed by the Confraternity of Charity in 1903), gives her name to this piece, which is displayed only on special occasions such as the Feast of the Shipwreck of St. Paul.
Artistically, the titular painting is a Baroque oil work by Enrico Regnaud, created shortly after the chapel’s construction. The canvas captures the mystical ecstasy of Saint Teresa, the Carmelite reformer, accompanied by Saint Francis of Paola, who holds the Staff of Charity. The ensemble is completed with side paintings of Saint John of the Cross and Saint Mary Magdalene de’ Pazzi, key figures of the Discalced Carmelite Order, and four floral still lifes on the pendentives symbolizing hope and the fleeting nature of life. Additionally, the side niches display a carved statue of Our Lady of Charity and outstanding examples of goldsmithing, including precious reliquaries and a mother-of-pearl Way of the Cross.
To protect this unique space in the heart of a UNESCO World Heritage site, a project co-financed by the European Union carried out a comprehensive restoration. The interventions focused on addressing critical damage caused by rising damp, water infiltration, and insect attacks, which affected both the chapel’s structure and the painted layers and stretchers of the canvases. These conservation measures ensure that the aesthetic splendor and integrity of this artistic heritage continue to serve as a cultural bastion for the community and visitors to Valletta.
