Oratorio dei SS Girolamo,

Francesco e Bernardino (1450)

Fra Angelo del Toscana, the Prior of San Fancesco al Prato established the Confraternita dei SS Girolamo, Francesco e Bernardino in 1445, shortly after the death of the last of these saints (and before his cononisation).  This was at the suggestion of Blessed James of the Marche, who had been a close colleague of St Bernardino.  The confraternity was given the perpetual us of an oratory in the convent of San Francesco al Prato in 1450.

Works of Art Removed from the Oratory

Madonna and Child with saints and angels (ca. 1450)

This panel, which is attributed to Benedetto Bonfigli, was mentioned in an inventory compiled in the period 1450-3.  It passed to the Academia di Belle Arti in 1810 and is now in the Galleria Nazionale (Room 14).

The panel depicts the Madonna and Child enthroned with SS Thomas Aquinas, Jerome (with his lion), Francis and Bernardino in front of a low parapet, behind which stand four praying angels.  It is odd that the most prominent of these saints is the Dominican, St Thomas, to whom the baby Jesus passes a bright object that is an allegory of his teaching.  Each of the saints holds a book, but that of St Thomas is open, revealing the words that Christ spoke to him as he prayed before a Crucifix: “Bene scriptisi de me Thoma ...” (You have written well of me Thomas ...).

Gonfalon of the Blessed James of the Marche (16th century)

This banner, which is attributed to Perugino, came from oratory.  It depicts Blessed James of the Marche, the founder of the confraternity,  holding a reliquary of the Blood of Christ.

The banner was noted in an inventory of the possessions of the confraternity in 1532, but not in an earlier one from 1517, suggesting that it was commissioned thereafter.  It was moved into the adjacent church of San Francesco al Prato when the oratory was demolished in 1797.  It was moved to the Accademia di Belle Arte in 1810 and is now in the deposit of the Galleria Nazionale. 

Return to Walk III.