In the early eighteenth century, the Sicilian baroque sculptor Giovanni Battista Ragusa created the statuary found on the gospel side of the altar of this chapel (i.e. the right side when looking toward the altar). These are statues of the Four Holy Virgins and Patrons of Palermo, namely: St. Olivia (a fifth century virgin and martyr from Palermo), St. Ninfa (a fourth century martyr from Palermo), St. Rosalia (a female hermit from near Palermo), and of course St. Agatha (the well known Sicilian virgin and martyr).
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| The Four Holy Virgins and Patrons of Palermo |
On the left, or epistle side, of the altar, another artist, Antonio Grano, executed statues of the apostle St. Philip, St. Mamiliano (a fifth century bishop of Palermo), St. Agatone (a seventh century pope who hailed from Palermo), and St. Sergius (a fourth century martyr).
As far as the altar itself is concerned, it famously contains a beautiful altarpiece featuring a depiction of the Immaculate Conception which was created n Rome in the year 1772, based off a sketch by the Sicilian painter, Vito D'Anna. It is arguably the most striking piece of the entire chapel -- which says a lot considering the particular beauty we can find here.
The altarpiece is also decorated with polychrome marbles, including two inlaid, Solomnic columns, as well as angelic figures sculpted by Ignazio Marabitti. The face of the altar (which, sadly, we do not have a good view of here) was also done in inlaid polychromatic marbles, executed in that instance by the artist Salvatore Valenti.
Looking up, we find frescoes executed by Antonio Grano.
