Mariano Gerada (1766–1823) was a Maltese sculptor. He was trained in Valencia, Spain, and gained fame with his polychrome wooden statues, whose exquisite curves reveal a deep knowledge of Gothic devotional images. Various titular statues carved in wood by the artist can be found around Malta, among them that of Our Lady full of Grace at Zabbar; the Assumption of Our Lady, known as ''Santa Marija'', sculpted for the village of Ghaxaq; and Saint

Catherine of Alexandria Catherine of Alexandria (also spelled Katherine); grc-gre, ἡ Ἁγία Αἰκατερίνη ἡ Μεγαλομάρτυς ; ar, سانت كاترين; la, Catharina Alexandrina). is, according to tradition, a Christian saint and virgin, ...

at Zurrieq. The statue of the

Archangel Michael Michael (; he, מִיכָאֵל, lit=Who is like El od, translit=Mīḵāʾēl; el, Μιχαήλ, translit=Mikhaḗl; la, Michahel; ar, ميخائيل ، مِيكَالَ ، ميكائيل, translit=Mīkāʾīl, Mīkāl, Mīkhāʾīl), also ...

in the parish church of

Cospicua Cospicua ( mt, Bormla ), also known by its titles Città Cospicua or Civitas Cottonera, is a double-fortified harbour city in the South Eastern Region of Malta. Along with Birgu and Senglea, it is one of the Three Cities, located within the Gran ...

is considered another of his masterpieces. The draft model for the Saint Michael statue was made out of the wood that remained from that used to carve the statue of the Assumption at Ghaxaq, and it can still be found in the sacristy of the Ghaxaq parish church. Among Gerada's non-religious statues are the Lion and Unicorn fountains to the left and right of the entrance of St. John's Co-Cathedral in

Valletta Valletta (, mt, il-Belt Valletta, ) is an administrative unit and capital of Malta. Located on the main island, between Marsamxett Harbour to the west and the Grand Harbour to the east, its population within administrative limits in 2014 wa ...

. They were carved from local limestone.

References

Artnet
1766 births 1823 deaths 18th-century Maltese sculptors 18th-century male artists 19th-century Maltese sculptors {{Malta-sculptor-stub