Sacristy: the chapel

This tiny room next to the sacristy has a unique charm. The painting depicts the biblical story of the Annunciation of Mary. This scene is also pictured in a painting placed in a lovely Baroque altarpiece: here, there is an angel offering a lily flower to the Virgin. On the sides of the altar, the artist painted portraits of the Virgin Mary’s presumed parents: Anna and Joachim. The author of these works was Vanante of Subiaco (c. 1579-1659), a Camaldolese from Italy and an accomplished painter. The low vault is decorated with a scene of the Visitation of St. Elizabeth.

Holy oils were kept in this room, as evidenced by a tasteful cabinet hanging on the wall.