Fr Michael Xerri

The bronze statue of Fr Michael Xerri stands in Independence Square, shaped by Maltese sculptor Anton Agius as a memorial. Anton Agius unveiled the statue there in 1986. Xerri, a philosophy professor, led a revolt against French occupation in 1799 with Guglielmo Lorenzi and other companions. Their coordinated plan sought freedom for the fortified city. Fear and betrayal disrupted the attacks, leading to the capture of Xerri and his companions. A firing squad executed them on 17 January 1799. Agius portrays Xerri standing upright while his fallen friends lie at his feet, joining strength and sorrow in one bronze scene. The central bronze figure remains upright above the fallen companions. This composition preserves a moment of decision, sacrifice, and consequence within the setting of Independence Square. The bronze surface gives the historical scene a lasting physical form. Stories, novels, operas, and poems have carried Xerri’s name beyond the monument, while the statue holds his final moment in view. The square presents Xerri’s memory through public art.