The oratory is the seat of a significant parish museum of sacred art, inaugurated in December 2002, made up in large part of works already present in the building in ancient times, recently restored and re-arranged, so as to create a course from the 15th to 19th centuries.

Referred to by the name of “spedaluzzo” since 1287, it was a refuge for the poor and for pilgrims, supported by the Bini family, house owners in this area of town and subordinate to the Roman Archhospital of Santo Spirito in Saxia. It continued to be used as a hospital until the end of the 1700’s.

Of particular importance inside is the major chapel, made up of a tribune with a central cupola, whose Renaissance style is consistent with the altarpiece of the Bini family, executed by Baccio d’Agnolo probably commissioned by Bernardo di Piero Bini, buried here, as witnessed by the date 1525 inscribed on the tombslab in the center of the chapel. The altarpiece was made in order to welcome the Madonna of Humility (photo 1), stolen during the 1920’s and recovered on the antiques market.

Along the left wall of the single nave there is the tabernacle of Saint Sebastian, a peculiar example of a niche deliberately planned in the 1630’s by the painter Giovanni Bilivert, who adapted paintings from the 15th century, to frame the Renaissance terracotta representing the saint (photo. 2).

Bilivert’s work is also documented by the picture of the Guardian angel, signed and dated. The painted terracotta representing the Madonna with Child is part of the original patrimony, following the iconography of the Mater amabilis; it is a copy of a prototype considered the work of Lorenzo Ghiberti. A polychrome wooden crucifix of the circle of Donatello is also displayed in the museum.

The museum also contains vestments, altar cloths and holy vessels from both the church of San Felice in Piazza and San Pietro in Gattolino, among which is to be pointed out a silver embossed case for particles to be carried around from the 16th century. These objects qualify the oratory as a museum collection of territorial sacred art.

essential bibliography

Oratorio di San Sebastiano detto dei Bini. Progetto per un museo parrocchiale nell'Oltrarno
Pedone M. (a cura di), Firenze, Editore: CentroDi, 2002