Cappella delle Rose

The chapel is reached from the corridor on the left-hand side of the right transept.  The corridor first passes a rose garden to the left which is said to be the spot where St Francis is said to have rolled in the brambles to ward off temptation before receiving the Portiuncula Indulgence from Christ.  Vincenzo Rossignoli sculpted the bronze statue (1916) of St Francis and the lamb. 

The corridor continues to the Cappella delle Rose:

• St Bonaventure commissioned the rear part of the chapel in ca. 1260, on the site of St Francis’ cell, and it was enlarged or rebuilt in 1344.  

• St Bernardino of Siena commissioned the oratory in front of it in the early 15th century. 
  

A grill now separates the two spaces.

Frescoes of the Rear Chapel

These frecoes (1506) by Tiberio d' Assisi depict:

• St Francis and his first twelve companions (on the back wall);

• SS Bonaventure and Bernardino of Siena and SS St Louis of Toulouse and Antony of Padua (on the left);
  

• SS Clare and Elizabeth of Hungary (on the right); and

• God the Father (in the vault).

Frescoes of the Oratory

These frecoes (1516) by Tiberio d' Assisi depict the granting of the Portiuncula Indulgence.  Tiberio re-used a number of the scenes from the cycle that he had painted in the Cappella delle Rose in San Fortunato, Montefalco in 1512. 

St Francis proclaims the Portiuncula Indulgence (showing the Portiuncula and adjacent buildings in the early 16th century)

The last scene (at the far end of the left wall) is particularly interesting, because it shows the Portiuncula as it was in the early 16th century. 

Among the bishops behind St Francis is St Raynald, Bishop of Nocera, who wears a beard as required by his status as a monk from Fonte Avellana.

Continue along the corridor to the Museo della Portiuncula.