Explore the Theft about the History of this artwork, Saint Jerome Writing (Caravaggio, Valletta).
In December 1984, the painting was stolen from the St. John's Co-Cathedral. The canvas was cut out of the frame. Two years later, following numerous telephone negotiations between the thieves and the then Director of Museums in Malta and Gozo, Fr. Marius J. Zerafa, the painting was recovered. The masterpiece was damaged and needed restoration before it was put on display again.The theft and recovery were covered in The Caravaggio Heist, a 2021 episode of the PBS series Secrets of the Dead. and a written full account of the theft and successful recovery had been recorded by Fr. Marius J. Zerafa in his book Caravaggio Diaries.
Malta M Caravaggio Secrets of the Dead