Without any doubt, the statue of Jesus scourged at the pillar is the one having the highest artistic value among the whole set of twelve statuary groups found at the parish of Żejtun.
This statue, which is carved in wood, is the work of the sculptor Xandru Farrugia who was born and lived in Żejtun in the 19th Century. According to the deed signed between Aloisio Zammit, the procurator, and Alessandro Farrugia, the sculptor, the statue was ordered on the 2nd October 1844. As described in the deed, Zammit asked Farrugia to base the design of his statue on the one which was made by Pietru Pawl Azzopardi for the parish of Bormla.
The Żejtun statue is considered as the masterpiece of Farrugia. It is clearly evident that Farrugia gave utmost importance to the anatomy of the figure of Christ at the pillar and had also studied in detail the posture of the human figure to the pillar.
If you would like to read more about this statue it is recommended that you read the recently published book by the Kumitat Festi Ġimgħa l-Kbira, Żejtun, “Il-Marbut” which is the second book published in the series Il-Ġimgħa l-Kbira – Żejtun: Storja, Drawwiet u Arti.
Wirt iż-Żejtun 