SHARRYLAND
The Oratory of the Nativity of Mary
Frescoed tales of saints and dragons
Where is
What it is and where it is
The first description of the Oratory of the Nativity dates back to 1595, but structural and stylistic elements allow dating the church to at least the second half of the 13th century. The flow of ages can be read in the different frescoes inside: in the apse area the oldest ones are recognizable, while on the southern wall an intervention 1486 can be seen. The large painting is organized on two registers. In the lower one, the figure of Christ Crucified with the penitent Magdalene subdivides the long theory of thaumaturgical saints, such as St. Anthony Abbot, who present themselves to the faithful and protect them.
Why it is special
The Oratory of the Nativity is located in the locality of Gaggiolo, near the Perugalla farmstead. Both are toponyms of Lombard origin referring to an ancient settlement. In particular, the toponym Gaggiolo would indicate a "land enclosed by a hedge, reserved forest or pasture, banished." It almost seems that with this sacred construction there was a desire to reclaim a defiled place. What is certain is that influences from the surrounding countryside converged here, making the oratory a place rich in history and tradition.
Not to be missed
Large fragments of frescoes depicting Saints Peter and Paul and the cycle of the Months emerge in the apse. This very cycle is extremely interesting and once again reiterates the close connection of the oratory with the surrounding area and the people who frequented it at the time: the peasants. Bringing the cycle of the Months into the apse meant welcoming them with something familiar, addressing them by speaking their language. A fascinating detail, finally, is the signature that the artist wanted to put on his work with the inscription "Magister Gujelmus De Orta Fecit opus."
A bit of history
The interior of the oratory was completely decorated with frames made of masks, presumably towards the end of the 16th century, following bishop's orders that constantly urged greater attention to the care of the building. The raising of the roof and the renovation of the altar with polychrome marbles determined the marked improvement in the state of preservation of the building, which is still the object of much attention by the fabricators.
Trivia
The oratory was, starting certainly in the 17th century, one of the stages of the "Rogations": a propitiatory rite for the fertility of the countryside that took place along predetermined routes usually after Easter. A processional dragon with moving parts was carried on these occasions. A specimen of this folk-flavored object is now preserved at the Museum of Religious Art "Fr. A. Mozzetti" along with some votive tablets from the oratory.
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