DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.71133#0420
CHAPTER XIV.
From the Gesu to S. Agnese in Piazza Navona.
289.-THE GESU-TOMB OF ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA.
This noble church, one of the most frequented in Rome, was
built for the Society of Jesus between the years 1568—1584
with princely liberality by Cardinal Alexander Farnese. The
architects were Vignola and Giacomo della Porta.1 The
interior is exceedingly rich and ornate, the profusion of decora-
tions in marble, bronze, gilding, and fresco painting being
almost bewildering. The ceiling, dome, and apse glow with
frescoes, the best work of Baciccio ; its altars are adorned with
rich bronzes and sculptures ; its walls are incrusted with costly
marbles ; its pavement is inlaid with porphyry and other
precious stones ; its sanctuary and side-chapels are bright with
lamps kept constantly burning.
Its principal treasures are :
1. The altar-tomb of St. Ignatius of Loyola, in the left
transept.—This is said to be the richest altar in Rome. The
steps are of porphyry ; the -predella is of Florentine mosaic,
richly inlaid with agates, lapis lazuli, porphyry, &c., the gift of
Philip II, of Spain ; the four fluted columns that support the
entablature of gilded bronze are lined with lapis lazulij the
bases and capitals are of bronze ; the pilasters are of black and
white marble, the pedestals and entablature of verde antico,
adorned with reliefs and foliated ornaments of bronze. These
reliefs are real works of art, and should be closely examined.
They illustrate incidents in the life of St. Ignatius. The summit
is crowned by the figures of the Three Divine Persons in white
marble encircled by rays of glory. Between the Eternal
Father and the Divine Son is a large globe of lapis lazuli.
1 The walls up to the cornice are the work of Vignola, the rest,
including the facade and dome, are of Giacomo della Porta. It is matter
-of regret that the latter did not keep to Vignola’s plan, and introduced
too much of the Barocco element.
From the Gesu to S. Agnese in Piazza Navona.
289.-THE GESU-TOMB OF ST. IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA.
This noble church, one of the most frequented in Rome, was
built for the Society of Jesus between the years 1568—1584
with princely liberality by Cardinal Alexander Farnese. The
architects were Vignola and Giacomo della Porta.1 The
interior is exceedingly rich and ornate, the profusion of decora-
tions in marble, bronze, gilding, and fresco painting being
almost bewildering. The ceiling, dome, and apse glow with
frescoes, the best work of Baciccio ; its altars are adorned with
rich bronzes and sculptures ; its walls are incrusted with costly
marbles ; its pavement is inlaid with porphyry and other
precious stones ; its sanctuary and side-chapels are bright with
lamps kept constantly burning.
Its principal treasures are :
1. The altar-tomb of St. Ignatius of Loyola, in the left
transept.—This is said to be the richest altar in Rome. The
steps are of porphyry ; the -predella is of Florentine mosaic,
richly inlaid with agates, lapis lazuli, porphyry, &c., the gift of
Philip II, of Spain ; the four fluted columns that support the
entablature of gilded bronze are lined with lapis lazulij the
bases and capitals are of bronze ; the pilasters are of black and
white marble, the pedestals and entablature of verde antico,
adorned with reliefs and foliated ornaments of bronze. These
reliefs are real works of art, and should be closely examined.
They illustrate incidents in the life of St. Ignatius. The summit
is crowned by the figures of the Three Divine Persons in white
marble encircled by rays of glory. Between the Eternal
Father and the Divine Son is a large globe of lapis lazuli.
1 The walls up to the cornice are the work of Vignola, the rest,
including the facade and dome, are of Giacomo della Porta. It is matter
-of regret that the latter did not keep to Vignola’s plan, and introduced
too much of the Barocco element.