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The Church of the Gesù (in Italian "Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù all'Argentina") or "Church of
the Holy Name of Jesus") is the mother church of the Society of Jesus, known as the Jesuits, an order of the Roman
Catholic Church. The Church contains the tomb of St. Ignatius.
The Church was the model for innumerable Jesuit churches all over the world, especially in the
Americas.
Della Porta's monumental façade dominates the
moderate-size piazza that lies before it and from which his
cupola, resting on an octagonal drum, is completely invisible.
On the interior, the modified Latin-cross plan accommodates a vast, single-nave space, whose barrel
vault is adorned with the grandiose fresco,
Triumph of the Name of Jesus,
a luminous and roiling work by Giovanni Battista Gaulli, called "il Baciccia," who employed the extraordinary effect of
aerial prospective.
The same artist also frescoed the cupola with Patriarchs and
Fathers of the Church and the
apse dome with the
Adoration of the Mystical Lamb.
The nineteenth-century
high altarpiece by Capalti depicts the Circumcision of
Christ.
The church's six side-altars feature works by other significant artists:
Ciampelli's Martyrdom of St. Andrew,
Celio's Way to Passion (Calvary and Crucifixion),
the Seven Archangels in Adoration of the Holy Trinity by Frederico
Zuccari,
Francesco Bassano's Adoration of the Most Holy Trinity,
the Holy Family by Giovanni Gagliardi and
the Conversion and Preaching of Saint Paul by Pier Francesco Mola and
Andrea Pozzo's saint Francis Borgia.
In the left transept the
St. Ignatius Chapel
(with the saint's tomb beneath the altar), is the magnificent work of Andrea Pozzo, while the right transept chapel, a
beatiful work designed by Pietro da Cortona, is dedicated to
St. Francis Xavier.
On the left of the apse there is the
Madonna della strada chapel
whereas on the right of the apse there is the small
Sacred Heart chapel.
Since 2002, thanks to the contribution of the
Gioco del Lotto-Lottomatica
and with the approval of the Soprintendenza, a new exterior lighting system, installed by Enel, has permitted the
appreciation of the
church's façade
even by night. Twelve circular and rectangular projectors bathe the church in a diffuse light and illuminate the great
shield
with the monogram of Jesus above the main portal, as well as the flanking niche statues of
St. Francis Xavierand
St. Ignatius of Loyola.
In 2005 the
saint Francis Borgia chapel has been restored.
In 2006 the
crucifix has been restored and
the picture of the
Madonna della strada
has been cleaned and restored.
History of the Church of the Gesù
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Virtual tour of the Church
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Bibliography
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Chiesa del Gesù, Via degli Astalli, 16 - 00186 Rome (Italy)
Tel. +39 06.697001 - Fax +39 06.69700263 - For sending an e-mail
Copyright © 2005 - Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù all'Argentina - Rome (Italy)