To embellish the Church of the Immaculate Conception at the Castle, built by the Confraternity of the same name following a large bequest in the mid-18th century, altarpieces of equal size were commissioned to be placed on the side altars, portraying several saints linked to the devotions present on the island.
Here are depicted together St. Francis of Paola (1416-1507), with open arms, patron saint of seafarers and of the Kingdom of Sicily, to whom altars were dedicated in at least three other small churches on Lipari, and St. Gaetano (1480-1547), founder of the Theatine order, to whom the churches of Acquacalda and Rinella are dedicated.
A putto at the bottom centre of the composition holds the respective iconographic attributes of the saints (a staff and a lily), while at the top two angels hold a shield with the inscription CHARITAS.
According to one tradition, St. Francis had a vision of a shining sun with the word CHARITAS in the centre, and was commanded to make it the emblem of his order. This virtue was also much cultivated by St. Gaetano, who demonstrated his commitment to service to others with countless works of charity and assistance, founding hospitals (including one for the incurable), orphanages and homes for the needy.
