Bologna Santa Maria dei Guarini Oratory
Santa Maria dei Guarini Oratory Photos
About Santa Maria dei Guarini Oratory
In the heart of this building and up two flights of stairs is the little known and mysterious Oratory of Santa Maria dei Guarini. Since physical access is severely restricted it’s no wonder this oratory has been resigned to the history books. Incredibly though this is one not to be missed.
This first room is officially called the Meeting Room. Inscriptions on the walls are by the Domenican P.Cesare Velasti and professor Giacomo Biancani. The main artefact here is of course this 18th century crucifix made from polychrome plaster by Angelo Pio.
The brotherhood of Santa Maria dei Guarini who belonged to the ancient society called ‘Laudesi’ built a hospital here and an adjacent chapel. The hospital took the name of San Giobbe and specialised in treating syphilis. Before establishing the oratory and hospital the brotherhood had been long associated with the Compagni di Santa Maria delle Laudi who were founded here since the 14th century. They continued to attend to their religious and charitible activities until the Napoleonic regime suppressed their order in 1798.
This next room is the Sacristy. On the walls are a few small paintings of saints Giacinto, Francesco di Paolo and Gonzaga. This polychrome crucifix was executed towards the end of the 18th century.
In the center of the room is this altar with reliquaries of various saints on either side. The statue of the Madonna, made from polychrome plaster, was completed by Gio Battista Gallanti early 1700s.
This Nativity painting here of the Virgin Mary is the work of an artist from the Bolognese school and dates to the 17th century.
The hospital was eventually joined with Santa Orsola just outside the city in 1799
This little room is also part of the sacristy and would have been used in the priest’s final preparations for mass. The small crucifix dates to the 1600s.
Looking towards the back of the chapel here is the gallery elegantly decorated by Lipparini and home to an organ dating around 1600/1700s. The architectonics is typical of late 17th century due to a complete restoration by Giuseppe Tubertini between 1784-1788, whereas, the oratory was actually constructed between 1604-1609 by Floriano Ambrosini and decorated by Paolo Carraci (brother of the more famous Lodovico). In 1609 the wood carver Francesco Fuzzi created the beautiful dark wooden benches along the sides. They would have been used by members of the brotherhood.
On either side of the altar are large statues of Moses. They are late 18th century works of art by the sculptor Luigi Acquisti from Forli. The altar itself made by Petronio Nannini was carved from wood and partially decorated. One of the most precious art works here is this painting called ‘The purification of Virgin Mary’ or also referred to as ‘The presentation of Jesus at the temple’. In the middle and bottom of the painting is a figure wearing a hat illustrating the authority of the brotherhood. It’s attributed to Bartolomeo Passarotti in the late 1500s.
The oratory is rarely used at present but it’s hoped that funds can be raised in future to restore it and open this little epic piece of Bologna once again to the public.