ALTAR OF THE HOLY SACRAMENT
The altar belonged to the Confraternity of the Holy Sacrament, who lived in Santarcangelo from the first half of the XVI century. The inscription on the right bottom (ILL.D.HELENA.FIL.Q.EXIMI. D. CAMILLI FERRANDI DE LONGIANO ET UXOR ILL. D. ADRIANI IACOBINI DE S.ARCANGELO EX VOTO) indicates that the painting was meant as a former vow made by Helen, daughter of Camillo Ferrandi from Longiano and wife of Adriano Giacomini from Santarcangelo.

The painting was made by Giovanni Battista Barbiani, from the Barbiani family of artists. Unlike other artists from his time, Giovanni Battista is not influenced by the important stylistic change brought by the Bolognese school of Reni and Guercino. In fact, despite the time the painting was made, it still reflects the Mannerist style that was typical of the Ravenna area.

The theme of the adoration of the shepherds is very common in the XVII century art. The scene told by Luke the Evangelist explains how Jesus’ attention was drawn towards the humble and the lower social ranks.