Oratorio di San Martino
Oratorio dello Scalzo
17th Century
Florentine Oratories
Oratories are a special category of chapel, small in size and in form
designed as a sort of meeting hall.
They were generally intended for lay fraternities of penitential and/or
charitable character with, in addition, a primary scope of veneration
of the brotherhood's specific saints. Often these organisations also played
an important role in the diffusion of religious observance and teaching.
Some date back to the XIII century and their development continues for
the next three hundred years, a period coinciding with Florence's golden-age.
Many surviving oritories are veritable jewels. Some were restructured
in the Baroque period and merit a visit aside.
We here propose a visit to the more important in the historical center.
SAN MARTINO DEI BUONOMINI
Saint Antonino, Bishop of Florence from 1441 placed under the protection of Saint Martin of Tours twelve "Buonomini", that is men of good will, to whom he entrusted the task of assisting a new and growing category of poor unaccustomed to poverty, and therefore ill-equiped to take advantage of the existing wellfare provisions (begging). These were the "poveri vergognosi" the ashamed poor, or rather, bankrupt merchants and politicians fallen into disgrace. Amongst the works of art contained are a painting by Cosimo Ulivelli (1600s) and frescoes by the school of Ghirlandaio (1400s) which illustrate seven works of charity.
SAN NICCOLÒ DEL CEPPO
Founded in the XIV century with the intent of providing religious instruction to the young, it was used during the day for catechism, while in the evening adults united in prayer. The brotherhood changed seat several times; the present site was realised on a project by Giambologna with a portal by Brother Francesco Buonarroti, decendant of Michelangelo's family. Amongst the works herein are paintings by Sogliani, Fra Angelico, Curradi and the school of Giambologna.
SAN FRANCESCO DEI VANCHETONI
The Oratory was in origin part of the Hospital of Saint Paul visited by Saint Francis of Assisi in 1221; then, in 1602, due to the Blessed Ippolito Galantini a silk weaver, the two separated, and, under the protection of Cadinal Alessandro de'Medici, the brotherhood dedicated it's-self to the instruction of apprentices in the silk guild.
The rectangular Oratory was designed by Giovanni and Matteo Nigetti; it contains frescoes by Giovanni da S. Giovanni, Pietro Liberi, Cecco Bravo and Volterrano.
Still today once a year a banquet is given for one hundred of the poor who are served by members of the brotherhood.
ORATORIO DELLO SCALZO
Founded in 1376 as one of the houses of the "Disciplinati" this Oratory of the "Battuti Neri" may have included Michelangelo amongst it's members. The "Battuti Neri", in addition to works of charity and prayer also practised mortification of the flesh. The Oritory found it's present-day seat in 1407 moving to the garden of the Celestini monks, where it seems that school was held by Donatello's student Bertoldo di Giovanni, traditionally believed to have been one of Michelangelo's teachers. In 1487 the cloister was added and, about a quarter of a century latter, was decorated with monochrome frescoes by Andrea del Sarto and Franciabigio depicting stories from the life of Saint John the Baptist.