St George's Oratory is a Roman Catholic church built in the 14th century as a family chapel by Marquis Soragna Raimondino Lupi. It is one of the many buildings that make up the rich architectural, artistic and cultural heritage of the historic city of Padua in the Veneto region. Not far from the more famous jewel that is Venice, it is a similarly rewarding place to visit if you are a lover of the arts. Maybe it's time to find a villa with a pool in Veneto and explore it for yourself.
The oratory has a small brick facade and is built on a simple plan of a single nave basilica, topped by a barrel-vaulted ceiling. The interior is like a jewellery box, adorned by frescoes on the walls and ceiling.
The oratory has a small brick facade and is built on a simple plan of a single nave basilica, topped by a barrel-vaulted ceiling. The interior is like a jewellery box, adorned by frescoes on the walls and ceiling.
Sadly the works are rather badly damaged as the centuries have not been kind and they were actually whitewashed over during the Napoleonic Wars. They weren't rediscovered until 1837 and, while restoration has taken place, they are still visibly damaged with fragments missing or worn away.
Despite the damage, however, one can very much appreciate the quality of the work and the majesty of the overall effect. The works were completed by Altichiero da Zevio, a painter from the Veronese school, with the assistance of the Bolognese painter Jacopo Avanzi. The building and painting scheme both reference the earlier Scrovegni Chapel.
Despite the damage, however, one can very much appreciate the quality of the work and the majesty of the overall effect. The works were completed by Altichiero da Zevio, a painter from the Veronese school, with the assistance of the Bolognese painter Jacopo Avanzi. The building and painting scheme both reference the earlier Scrovegni Chapel.
The barrel-vaulted ceiling is painted a starry sky, the walls are sectioned off by artificial architectural frames to fit the painted stories within them.
Unlike the earlier chapel, however, these are of varying sizes due to the positions of the windows and the subject-matter involved.
The walls of the entrance, on the northeast axis of the church, and altar, on the southeast axis, depict the stories of Christ and Mary.
The length of the church, however, shows tales of saints George and Lucy and Catherine of Alexandria.
The influence of the great Early Renaissance master, Giotto, is visible in the use of colour and the organisation of the images but Da Zavio's own skill in creating rich figurative and ornamental decoration is visible.
St George's Oratory is located near the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, a local pilgrimage church, and is in the Piazza del Santo. Opening hours in Spring and Summer are 9:00 to 19:00 with a break between 12:30 and 14:30. During Autumn and Winter, it closes at 17:00. This little chapel is a gem of Renaissance painting and design and is very much off the beaten track. You might even get it to yourself for a few minutes! Make sure you stop by if you're ever in Veneto.
Unlike the earlier chapel, however, these are of varying sizes due to the positions of the windows and the subject-matter involved.
The walls of the entrance, on the northeast axis of the church, and altar, on the southeast axis, depict the stories of Christ and Mary.
The length of the church, however, shows tales of saints George and Lucy and Catherine of Alexandria.
The influence of the great Early Renaissance master, Giotto, is visible in the use of colour and the organisation of the images but Da Zavio's own skill in creating rich figurative and ornamental decoration is visible.
St George's Oratory is located near the Basilica of Saint Anthony of Padua, a local pilgrimage church, and is in the Piazza del Santo. Opening hours in Spring and Summer are 9:00 to 19:00 with a break between 12:30 and 14:30. During Autumn and Winter, it closes at 17:00. This little chapel is a gem of Renaissance painting and design and is very much off the beaten track. You might even get it to yourself for a few minutes! Make sure you stop by if you're ever in Veneto.
Photo credits
picture 1: Cezar Suceveanu / CC BY-SA 4.0;
picture 2: sailko / CC BY 2.5;
picture 3: Rollroboter / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 1: Cezar Suceveanu / CC BY-SA 4.0;
picture 2: sailko / CC BY 2.5;
picture 3: Rollroboter / CC BY-SA 3.0
