Urbino offers much more than the Ducal palace. Don’t miss the small chapel around the corner, dedicated to St. John and painted with a famous cycle of murals by the brothers Lorenzo and Jacopo Salimbeni
The Oratory of St. John the Baptist – Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista – is a 14th-century small chapel or prayer hall located in Via Francesco Barocci, in Urbino. It measures 14 x 7 metres and was built by the confraternity of St. John in Urbino, founded in 1350. Still in existence, the confraternity continues to use the oratory.
The oratory is best known for its late Gothic style fresco cycle (1416) by the brothers Lorenzo and Jacopo Salimbeni. The subjects include a two Madonnas, presumably painted by each brother and a Crucifixion on the backwall. In addition the oratory includes scenes from the life of John the Baptist such as: the annunciation of his birth, the baptism of Jesus, the baptism of the neophytes, and St. John preaching etc.
Most of the scenes unfolds in a sedate and quiet manner, observed by modishly clad onlookers from the beginning of the 15th century. In this way the brothers has opened up the chapel up for members of the confraternity to enter the scenes together with their forebears painted surrounding the central vignettes of the stories and legends about St. John.
The frescoes, dated 1416, are an extraordinary witness to the artistic environment in the region of Marche and its affinity to the international Gothic influences.
The pictorial cycle of the Oratory of St. John in Urbino represents some of the best work achieved by the Salimbeni brothers. Thus, the technical virtuosity is evident in the angels with mother of pearl inlaid wings, and the chromatic subtlety in the use of rich colours. The cycle of frescoes, which has been likened to a fairy tale, were restored in 2012 – 13 in time for celebrating its 600-year anniversary in 2016.
VISIT:
Oratorio di San Giovanni Battista
SEE MORE:
Oratorio San Giovannin in Urbino
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By Lorenzo Marra, 2014
FEATURED PHOTO:
The confraternity planning a feast. The Oratory of St. John in Urbino © David Snyder
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