Frescoes in the Oratorio Suardi, Trescore (1523-24)
by Lorenzo Lotto

The frescoes in the Oratorio Suardi were commissioned by Count Battista Suardi, his wife Orsolina and his sister Paolina Suardi. Battista Suardi was a member of a leading Bergamasque family, he was Lotto's patron in Trescore where he had built the oratory in 1501-02, and soon afterward had had the east wall, with its semicircular apse accommodating the altar, decorated by an anonymous and modestly gifted local painter. Lotto's task was to paint the other three walls, and the areas of ceiling between the exposed wooden beams that supported the roof. On the left wall the stories of St Barbara, on the right wall the stories of St Brigid, while on the entrance wall the stories of St Catherine of Alexandria and St Magdalene are depicted.

The frescoes mark one of the high points of Lotto's career. The meanings and possible interpretations are extremely complicated and also include references to the Protestant Reformation and alchemy. However, the two longer walls are dedicated to the narration of the legends relating to the two saints. While the stories of St Brigid interrupted by the door and windows, the complex account of the martyrdom of St Barbara is continuous, with the important points being underlined by the presence of architecture. The frescoes on the ceiling (an arbour with putti) and the end walls seem in a poor state of conservation, especially if compared with the side walls, which are in excellent condition.

Preview Picture Data File Info Comment
View of the oratory toward the altar
1523-24
Fresco
Oratorio Suardi, Trescore

1400*818
True Color
200 Kb



View of the oratory toward the entrance side
1523-24
Fresco
Oratorio Suardi, Trescore

1400*831
True Color
192 Kb



Legend of St Brigid (south wall)
1523-24
Fresco
Oratorio Suardi, Trescore

1651*800
True Color
236 Kb



Legend of St Brigid (detail)
1523-24
Fresco
Oratorio Suardi, Trescore

1071*1300
True Color
206 Kb



Legend of St Brigid (detail)
1523-24
Fresco
Oratorio Suardi, Trescore

1144*1100
True Color
216 Kb



Legend of St Brigid (detail)
1523-24
Fresco
Oratorio Suardi, Trescore

1098*1400
True Color
201 Kb



Legend of St Brigid (detail)
1523-24
Fresco
Oratorio Suardi, Trescore

1400*962
True Color
179 Kb



Legend of St Brigid (detail)
1523-24
Fresco
Oratorio Suardi, Trescore

1400*969
True Color
196 Kb



Legend of St Barbara (north wall)
1523-24
Fresco
Oratorio Suardi, Trescore

1505*800
True Color
243 Kb



Legend of St Barbara (detail)
1523-24
Fresco
Oratorio Suardi, Trescore

1200*1121
True Color
237 Kb



Legend of St Barbara (detail)
1523-24
Fresco
Oratorio Suardi, Trescore

908*1300
True Color
206 Kb



Legend of St Barbara (detail)
1523-24
Fresco
Oratorio Suardi, Trescore

1400*967
True Color
196 Kb



Legend of St Barbara (detail)
1523-24
Fresco
Oratorio Suardi, Trescore

1088*900
True Color
151 Kb



Legend of St Barbara (detail)
1523-24
Fresco
Oratorio Suardi, Trescore

850*1100
True Color
217 Kb



Legend of St Barbara (detail)
1523-24
Fresco
Oratorio Suardi, Trescore

692*852
True Color
160 Kb




Summary of paintings by Lorenzo Lotto
until 1506
Treviso
1506-13
Recanati, Rome
1513-24
Bergamo
1523-24
Trescore
1525-33
Venice
1533-40
The Marches
from 1540
Venice, Ancona, Loreto