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Church of St Mary of the Recommended in Orvinio: an artistic dialogue between father and son
In the village of Orvinio, the Church of Santa Maria dei Raccomandati is the stage for a singular artistic dialogue. Its walls are the canvas for Ascanio Manenti and his son Vincenzo, who brought to fruition here the teachings of his masters, namely Cavalier d'Arpino and Domenichino. For those wondering what to see in Orvinio, this is an ideal starting point. The frescoes by Vincenzo Manenti and his father are a key to viewing the shift from Classicism to Mannerism.
A dialogue between nave and altars
The contrast begins in the nave, among the panels of saints painted by Ascanio. It then moves to the altars. On the left, in Vincenzo's St Francis, the artist concealed his own self-portrait in ecclesiastical vestments. Opposite, his father's Madonna of the Rosary is framed by the fifteen mysteries. This work remained hidden for centuries beneath a canvas painted by the son, today visible near the entrance.
The private chapels
Vincenzo's work continues in the private chapels. In the Cappella Cervelli, on the left, he painted St James with St Charles Borromeo and women in period costume paying homage to St Lucy. His hand becomes even more personal in the nearby Cappella Basilici, where the 17th-century taste for portraiture forcefully emerges — a true hallmark of his style.
The church has no fixed opening hours. It is advisable to check in advance by contacting the Pro Loco or the Municipality of Orvinio.
