The Sanctuary of the Madonna of the Oak or Santuario della Madonna della Querce is a

Renaissance The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history marking the transition from the Middle Ages to modernity and covering the 15th and 16th centuries, characterized by an effort to revive and surpass ideas ...

-style,

Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...

church located about a kilometer from the center of the town of

Lucignano Lucignano is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Province of Arezzo in the Italian region Tuscany, located about southeast of Florence and about southwest of Arezzo. Lucignano borders the following municipalities: Foiano della Chiana, Marcian ...

, in the region of

Tuscany Tuscany ( ; it, Toscana ) is a Regions of Italy, region in central Italy with an area of about and a population of about 3.8 million inhabitants. The regional capital is Florence (''Firenze''). Tuscany is known for its landscapes, history, art ...

, Italy. The church is in the

Roman Catholic Diocese of Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepolcro The Italian Catholic diocese of Arezzo-Cortona-Sansepolcro has existed since 1986. In that year the historic diocese of Arezzo was combined with the diocese of Cortona and the diocese of Sansepolcro, the enlarged diocese being suffragan of the ar ...

History

The 16th-century church at the site of a large oak tree upon which an image of the Madonna had been painted. A tabernacle had been erected at the site in 1417. A spring was discovered during construction, leading to its attribution as a miracle. The depiction of the Madonna and child, a ''Maesta'' (1417) is attributed to Feliciano Batone, and is now encased in a baroque frame. The design is attributed to

Giorgio Vasari Giorgio Vasari (, also , ; 30 July 1511 – 27 June 1574) was an Italian Renaissance Master, who worked as a painter, architect, engineer, writer, and historian, who is best known for his work ''The Lives of the Most Excellent Painters, Sculpt ...

, and the church was erected in 1564. Circa 1585, the church was conceded by

pope Gregory XIII Pope Gregory XIII ( la, Gregorius XIII; it, Gregorio XIII; 7 January 1502 – 10 April 1585), born Ugo Boncompagni, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 13 May 1572 to his death in April 1585. He is best known for ...

to the

Servite order The Servite Order, officially known as the Order of Servants of Mary ( la, Ordo Servorum Beatae Mariae Virginis; abbreviation: OSM), is one of the five original Catholic mendicant orders. It includes several branches of friars (priests and brothe ...

. The servites officiated the church until 1783. Like the Basilica of the Annunziata in Florence, the church has a central nave and two aisles. The stucco sculpture work was completed by Ippolito Bracci, who also completed the central portal (1551). The church was consecrated in 1617. In 1697,

Pope Innocent XI Pope Innocent XI ( la, Innocentius XI; it, Innocenzo XI; 16 May 1611 – 12 August 1689), born Benedetto Odescalchi, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 21 September 1676 to his death on August 12, 1689. Poli ...

gave the church, designating the church as the ''Sanctuary of the Virgine Addolorata of Tuscany''.Censimento dei santuari cristiani in Italia dall’antichità ai nostri giorni], by Ecole Française de Rome. Among the altarpieces is a ''Saints Benedict, Apollonia, and Catherine of Siena'' (1625) by

Matteo Rosselli Matteo Rosselli (10 August 1578 – 18 January 1650) was an Italian painter of the late Florentine Counter- Mannerism and early Baroque. He is best known however for his highly populated grand-manner historical paintings. Biography He first app ...

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Madonna della Quercia Lucignano 16th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Churches in Lucignano Roman Catholic churches completed in 1564 Renaissance architecture in Tuscany