eclectic imaging (redux)
S Ignacio, Rome, Italy
Posted by MadScientist (Düsseldorf, Germany) on 24 January 2008 in Art & Design.
This trompe l'œil ceiling can be found in the second most important Jesuit church in Rome, Sant'Ignazio, where the founder of the Society of Jesus, Ignatius of Loyola, is glorified. The painting by Andrea Pozzo (1685) makes you believe that you're looking right into heaven, where Ignatius receives his epiphany (symbolized by light rays) and gets 'ignited' (hence his name). The then known parts of the world (located in the corners) are witnessing the scene. The beholder's eye moves immediately to Ignatius, though the Lord is exactly in the midst of the scene. This is a beautiful example of baroque illusionist painting.
I'll present more detail shots of this one in the near future.
My (old) coffee-table book of selected postings.
More MadScientist: eclecticimaging.tumblr.com, the guy behind this blog
@Ina: Thank you! Except some image rotation I did no post-processing, the light in the church was quite right :)
@Michael Skorulski: The impression of looking into an open sky is indeed overwhelming, the only church I found even more spectacular was Il Gesú.
@Craiger: It is! Interestingly, these churches look rather plain from the outside (except from the portal). The glory is indoors, a completely different concept from Gothic churches that broadcast their impression both externally and internally.
@Steven: And it is just the second most important Jesuit church :)
@danthro: The effect is remarkable - these paintings are quite large and cover the whole ceiling.
@Michael: Ja, die Barockmaler hatten's schon drauf :) Und die Jesuiten konnten es sich leisten. Aber im direkten Vergleich zur Hauptkirche (Il Gesú) erscheint Sant'Ignacio geradezu schlicht.
@EjHowarth: Having seen this I wondered if I should try something like this at home, but I eventually refrained from doing so :-)