Santa Maria in Aracoeli:
Bufalini Chapel

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Bufalini Chapel

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The frescoes in the Bufalini Chapel (Cappella Bufalini), in the church of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, were painted by Bernardino di Betto (1454-1513), better known as il Pinturicchio, between 1484 and 1486. 

The Funeral of San Bernardino da Siena

The frescoes, which depict scenes from the lives of San Bernardino da Siena (1380-1444) and St Francis (c. 1181-1226), were commissioned by Riccomanno Bufalini for his family chapel. Bufalini appears in the fresco on the left wall. He stands in a floor-length fur-lined cloak on the far left. ​

Altar wall

The fresco on the altar wall depicts The Glory of St Bernardine. St Bernardine, who is flanked by St Augustine and St Anthony of Padua, holds open a book on which is written: PATER MANIFESTAVI NOMEN TVVM OMNIBVS (Father, I have shown your name to everyone). St Bernadine of Siena died on May 20th 1444. Six years later, on May 24th 1450, he was canonised by Pope Nicholas V (r. 1447-55). His feast day is May 20th.

Vault

The two frescoes on the right wall depict scenes from the life of St Francis. The frescoes in the vault depict the four Evangelists. In the centre of the vault are the letters: IHS, a Christian monogram that was widely promoted by St Bernadine. IHS are the first three letters of the name of Jesus in Greek and St Bernardine liked to set the letters against the background of a radiant sun.

Pavement inscription

The inscription in the centre of the Cosmatesque floor reads: ​AL RIPOSO E ALLA MEMORIA DEI TRAPASSATI MARHSI ORIGO (To the rest and memory of the late Marchese Origo). After the Bufalini family the patrons of the chapel were the Mancini and then the Origo. 

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