Oratory of San Lorenzo

The Oratory of Saint Lawrence (Italian: Oratorio di San Lorenzo) is a Baroque oratory of Palermo. It is located near the Basilica of Saint Francis of Assisi, in the quarter of the Kalsa, within the historic centre of Palermo.^[1]

Oratory of Saint Lawrence
Oratorio di San Lorenzo (in Italian)
Religion
Affiliation	Roman Catholic
Province	Archdiocese of Palermo
Rite	Roman Rite
Location
Location	Palermo, Italy
Geographic coordinates	38°07′00.07″N 13°21′59.15″E
Architecture
Style	Sicilian Baroque
Groundbreaking	1570 c.

The oratory was built in 1569 to replace a former smaller church dedicated to St Lawrence. Construction was funded by a confraternity of mainly Genovese merchants, and linked to Conventual Franciscans. In 1699-1706, Giacomo Serpotta realized a sumptuous stucco decoration, depicting the life of St Francis.^[2]

The oratory is particularly famous because of the masterpiece altarpiece Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence (1600 or 1609) by Caravaggio. This important painting was stolen, probably by Cosa Nostra, on October 18, 1969. It has never been recovered. In 2015 a hi-tech replica of the altarpiece was placed inside the oratory.^[3]

Caravaggio, Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence

References

1. "The Oratory of San Lorenzo | www.palermoviva.it".
2. "Oratorio di San Lorenzo - Amici dei Musei Siciliani" (in Italian). Retrieved 2024-01-03.
3. Kirchgaessner, Stephanie (2015-12-10). "'Restitution of a lost beauty': Caravaggio Nativity replica brought to Palermo". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-01-03.