Oratorio di San Francesco (1429)
The
Confraternita di San Francesco was first documented in 1330. Its oratory is also known by three other names:
- di San Francescuccio, to distinguish it from the main church of San Francesco;
- di San Leonardo, the name of the now-demolished church near Porta San Giacomo in which the confraternity originally met; and
- delle Stimmate, after the confraternity became part of the Arciconfraternita delle Sacre Stimmate, Rome in 1594.
Gentile di Bernardo Fiumi gave the confraternity the
land next to hs family residence for the present oratory in 1428. The Fiumi continued their support into the 16th century: Count Giacomo Fiumi was appointed to the confraternity by acclamation in 1490, and Count Alessandro Fiumi was its prior in 1510.
The oratory is used for Anglican
services on one Sunday of each month.
Entrance Wall
The entrance wall (which is a sidewall of the oratory) contains a number of interesting but damaged frescoes:
Annunciation (ca. 1439)
This
heavily repainted fresco to the right of the
entrance has been attributed to Pietro di Giovanni Mazzaforte da
Foligno.
Granting of the Portiuncula Indulgence (early 15th century)
This
damaged fresco is in the lunette above the entrance. In the main
scene, Christ and the Virgin appear to the kneeling St Francis, who is
surrounded by angels. SS Francis and
Leonard stand to the sides, with God the Father above.
Seven Works of Mercy (early 15th century)
These monochrome frescoes are on the exterior wall to the right of the entrance.
Interior
The
large fresco of the Crucifixion with saints (15th century) in the lunette on the altar wall is attributed to Giovanni di Corraduccio. St Mary Magdalene
kneels at the foot of the Cross, with SS John the Evangelist and
Francis on the right and the Virgin and other grieving women with St
Leonard on the left.
A processional banner (1378) by the so-called Maestro del
Gonfalone di San Leonardo that once belonged to the confraternity is
now in the Museo della Cattedrale.
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