ORATORY, OR THE PRIVATE CHAPEL OF THE BORGIA DUKES

Although this room is not very large (5.92m long x 2.48m wide x 2.31m high), the Oratory is one of the most important historical spaces in the building, with one of the best preserved wall paintings from the Renaissance in the entire Palace.

At present, the Oratory has been completely remodelled with respect to its 16th-C structure, having undergone several alterations and interventions, basically in the late 19th C. From these past works are the marquetry floor, made in exotic woods, and the construction of the vaulted ceiling using gilded brass, marble in different colours, and the ceramic pieces with metallic reflections.

Apart from the visible remains of an old ceramic floor, the only original vestiges from the 16th century are the wall paintings representing the mysteries of the rosary made in a two-colour grisaille. These were the work of the son of the famous painter Paolo de San Leocadio, who arrived in Gandia at the request of María Enriquez, and who had the help of Brother Coronas in completing the ensemble in the late 19th century.

The iconographic programme of the 13 mysteries of the Rosary represented here start at the foot of the chapel (the opposite side of the altar) and include:

The Joyful Mysteries

1 The Annunciation.

2 The Visitation of Our Lady to Santa Isabel.

3 The Presentation of Jesus in the temple.

4 The Loss of the Child Jesus and his discovery in the temple.

The Dolorous Mysteries

1 The Prayer of Our Lord in the Garden of Gethsemane.

2 The Flagellation of the Lord.

3 The Crowning with Thorns.

4 The Procession to Mount Calvary carrying the Cross.

The Glorious Mysteries

1 The Resurrection of the Lord.