Chiesa di Santo Spirito

The Church of Santo Spirito in Prato preserves late medieval and Renaissance paintings in a single-nave church founded by the Servites in the fourteenth century.

Why it matters

Originally dedicated to the Santissima Annunziata, the church became a parish after the convent's suppression and took its present dedication in 1784. Altarpieces transferred from suppressed churches and oratories make its interior a record of Prato's changing religious institutions.

What to notice

The single nave retains a wooden truss ceiling and Gothic fabric overlaid by later renovations. A carved Baroque choir loft stands on the counter-facade. Works include the Presentation at the Temple, commissioned from Filippo Lippi and executed in 1468 by Fra Diamante and collaborators; an Annunciation by Jacopo di Cione; and Pentecost by Santi di Tito.

Context and history

The Servite foundation and adjoining monastery date to the mid-fourteenth century. The convent was suppressed under Bishop Scipione de' Ricci in the late eighteenth century, and the church became Spirito Santo. Its history reflects the redistribution of art from religious houses and the continued use of older paintings within active churches.