Canonization of Saint Francis at the Sacro Monte di Orta

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Canonization of Saint Francis by Pope Gregory IX, at the Sacro Monte di Orta

Sacro Monte di Orta is a series of chapels, alocated in Piedmont in the north of Italy. Their construction began in 1583 and the original project envisioned 36 chapels, all dedicated to St. Francis and his order. 

The chapels provide a full depiction in two and three dimensions, of several scenes from the life of St. Francis. 

Twenty of the originally envisioned thirty six chapels were constructed by the time of completion of the project in the later 18th century and one that will be of especial interest to our readers is chapel number twenty which depicts the canonization of St. Francis of Assisi by Pope Gregory IX. 

The statues were created by Dionigi Bussola, while the frescos were executed by Antonio Busca.

This chapel brings particular interest, since it shows the papal liturgy of canonization, depicting an event that took place in the second quarter of the 13th century by artists who lived in the 17th century. giving an insight into their liturgy, an the overall papal court.

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