The Chiesa del Gesù, located in the heart of Rome near Piazza Venezia, is the mother church of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). Designed by Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola in 1568, with the façade completed by Giacomo della Porta in 1575, the church introduced architectural innovations that became a model for Baroque ecclesiastical design.
The ceiling frescoes of the Chiesa del Gesù were created by Giovanni Battista Gaulli, also known as Il Baciccio, between 1672 and 1685. The centerpiece, titled "The Triumph of the Name of Jesus", covers the nave ceiling. The fresco celebrates the glory of the name of Jesus, symbolized by the IHS Christogram at the center, radiating divine light. Gaulli’s fresco epitomizes the Baroque fascination with theatricality and visual effects. He employed a technique known as quadratura, using painted architecture to create the illusion that the fresco merges seamlessly with the church’s actual structure. Sculptural stucco figures, created by Antonio Raggi, enhance the three-dimensional effect, blurring the line between real and painted forms.
The Triumph of the Name of Jesus, Giovanni Battista Gaulli (1678 - 1679)
Gaulli’s artistic vision extends to the dome and apse of the church. The dome features angels and saints surrounding the Holy Trinity.
Chiesa del Gesù - dome
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