Oratory of Saint Lawrence

Oratory of Saint Lawrence
Oratorio di San Lorenzo (in Italian)
Interior of the oratory. Stucco decoration is by Giacomo Serpotta. The precious altarpiece Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence (1600 or 1609) by Caravaggio was stolen from the oratory in 1969.
Basic information
Location Palermo, Italy
Geographic coordinates 38°07′00.07″N 13°21′59.15″E / 38.1166861°N 13.3664306°E / 38.1166861; 13.3664306Coordinates: 38°07′00.07″N 13°21′59.15″E / 38.1166861°N 13.3664306°E / 38.1166861; 13.3664306
Affiliation Roman Catholic
Rite Roman Rite
Province Archdiocese of Palermo
Architectural description
Architectural style Sicilian Baroque
Groundbreaking 1570 c.

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.

The oratory was founded in the late 16th century. The building was given to the Conventual Franciscans in order to spread the cult of the saints Francis and Lawrence. In 1699 Giacomo Serpotta realized a somptuous stucco decoration.

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. In 2015 a hi-tech replica of the altarpiece was placed inside the oratory.[1]

Caravaggio, Nativity with St. Francis and St. Lawrence

References

  1. ↑ Restitution of a lost beauty': Caravaggio Nativity replica brought to Palermo - The Guardian, 10 December 2015


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