The church of San Martino del Vescovo is a parish church in central Florence

Florence

Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....

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This church became the seat of the Compagnia dei Buonomini, begun by St. Anthony in 1442 and aided by the munificence of Cosimo 'Il Vecchio' de' Medici. The confraternity was formed to benefit the poveri vergognosi (the shamed poor). The interior frescoes are attributed to the workshop of Domenico Ghirlandaio although their dating remains a contentious issue. Eight of the cycle of ten murals are based on the Seven Works of Corporal Mercy and show the Buonomini performing these tasks. The brothers are depicted giving food and drink to the thirsty, clothing the naked, visiting the sick, giving shelter to pilgrims, releasing a debtor from gaol, burying the dead, witnessing an espousal and making an inventory. The two frescoes which flank the altar show scenes from the life of Saint Martin of Tours. The depiction to the left of the altar shows Martin dividing his cloak for the beggar and the one to the right, depicts 'The Dream of Saint Martin'. Inside is an altarpiece of a Madonna with Infant Jesus and St. John by iccolò Soggi] and a bust of Saint Antoninus which is attributed to Verrocchio.

The Buonomini are to this day active in Florence although their charitable activities remain secret. Each friday afternoon the twelve good men meet in the Sala Riunioni to discuss the confraternity's business.

The frescoes and the interior of the oratory underwent a sympathetic restoration program in April 2011.