The Oratory of St. Thomas Aquinas is a late- Renaissance-style, Roman Catholic prayer hall located on Via della Pergola in Florence, region of Tuscany, Italy.

History

The simple facade stands across the street from the Hospital of Santa Maria Nuova; it was initially the site of the ''Congregation of the Noble Contemplatives'' (Congregazione dei Contemplanti dei Nobili), founded by a Dominican friar, named fra Santi di Cini, from the Convent of San Marco. In 1568, the painter Santi di Tito, designed the oratory for the confraternity, and it was dedicated it to St Thomas Aquinas. Santi also painted the altarpiece of the ''Crucifixion and St Thomas Aquinas'' (in restoration). The vestibule has quadratura painted in 1782 by the painters Grix and Stagi. The altar has walls decorated in elaborate and fine scagiole by

Carlo Ghibertoni Carlo is a given name. It is an Italian form of Charles. It can refer to: *Carlo (name) * Monte Carlo *Carlingford, New South Wales, a suburb in north-west Sydney, New South Wales, Australia *A satirical song written by Dafydd Iwan about Prince Cha ...

. The ceiling was decorated in 1710 with quadratura by

Rinaldo Botti Rinaldo Botti (1658 in Florence – March 31, 1740 in Florence) was an Italian painter active in the Baroque period. He was a pupil of Jacopo Chiavistelli, and specialized in quadratura. He collaborated with Andrea Landini in frescoing some salon ...

, and depicts the ''Glory of St Thomas'' painted by

Camillo Sagrestani Giovanni Camillo Sagrestani (1660–1731) was an Italian painter of the Baroque era. Biography A native of Florence, he was, according to Lanzi, a pupil of Antonio Giusti, but became a follower of the style of Carlo Cignani.Ranieri del Pace Ranieri Del Pace (Pisa, May 7, 1681 – February 27, 1738), also called Giovanni Batista Ranieri Del Pace, was an Italian painter of the late Baroque period, active mainly in Tuscany. He trained under Giovanni Camillo Sagrestani. Lanzi describ ...

. In the seventeenth century, the oratory became a hospice for pilgrims, and in 1775, rites were suppressed. The oratory has recently been reconsecrated and holds services.

Sources

Quadraturismo website
{{DEFAULTSORT:Oratory of St Thomas Aquinas Roman Catholic churches in Florence 16th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Renaissance architecture in Florence