The Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola, located in the historic center of Rome, is a prominent Baroque church dedicated to Saint Ignatius of Loyola. Built between 1626 and 1650, the church was designed by Orazio Grassi, a Jesuit architect, and stands as a testament to the Counter-Reformation's emphasis on grandeur and theatricality in religious architecture.
The church's façade, completed in 1650, is characterized by classical proportions and decorative details. It features two stories with Corinthian and Composite pilasters, creating a balanced and harmonious composition. The central portal is flanked by niches designed to house statues of saints.
Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola - facade
The interior of Sant'Ignazio is renowned for its stunning frescoes by Andrea Pozzo, a Jesuit artist and architect. The ceiling fresco, Glorification of Saint Ignatius, painted between 1685 and 1694, is a masterpiece of illusionism. It depicts Saint Ignatius being welcomed into heaven, surrounded by allegorical figures representing the four continents (Asia, Europe, Africa, and the Americas), symbolizing the Jesuits’ global missionary work. The fake dome is another remarkable feature of Pozzo’s work. Painted on a flat surface, it employs perspective techniques to give the illusion of a three-dimensional dome when viewed from a specific point in the nave.
"Glorification of Saint Ignatius", Andrea Pozzo
Chiesa di Sant'Ignazio di Loyola - ceiling
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