The only series of frescoes painted by Francia in Bologna of which some traces still remain, are those in the Oratory of St. Cecilia, attached to the church of San Giacomo Maggiore. This chapel, founded by Giovanni Bentivoglio and erected by the architect Gasparo Nadi in 1481, was decorated entirely by the hands of Francia and his scholars in the early part of the sixteenth century. Costa’s fresco, which alone bears a date, was executed in 1506, and the whole series was probably completed before the exile of the Bentivogli in 1507. Unfortunately this chapel, which is for the Bolognese school what the chapels of the Carmine and Eremitani are for Florentine and Paduan art, has been frequently turned to other uses, and during its occupation by French soldiers the frescoes suffered great injury. All are much damaged, and some mutilated in such a manner that the principal figures are scarcely visible. But even in their present melancholy condition Francia’s frescoes are full of interest, and it is easy to see how superior they are in merit to any other works of the school. Of the four remaining artists employed in the chapel—Lorenzo Costa, Giovanni Chiodarolo, Amico Aspertini, and Giacomo Raibolini (or Tamaroccio)—the Ferrarese master is the only one who approaches him in the excellence of his style, and even Costa’s heads cannot compare with those of Francia for beauty and expression. The subjects of the ten frescoes are all taken from the history of St. Cecilia. On the right of the altar:— 1. Marriage of Cecilia and Valerian. _Francia._ 2. Valerian instructed in the Christian faith by Pope Urban. _Costa._ 3. Baptism of Valerian. _Cesare Tamaroccio._[9] 4. Valerian and Cecilia crowned with roses by an Angel. _Chiodarolo._ 5. Martyrdom of Valerian and his brother Tiburtius. _Aspertini._ On the left of the altar:— 6. The Burial of the Brothers. _Aspertini._ 7. Cecilia before the Prefect. _Aspertini._ 8. Cecilia condemned to the boiling bath. _Cesare Tamaroccio._[9] 9. Cecilia distributing her riches to the poor. _Costa._ 10. Burial of Cecilia. _Francia._