Counter Reformation Churches

Question 1

Answer 1

Il Gesu

Date: 1568

Architect: Vignola and Giacomo della Porta

Location: Rome, Italy

• Mother church of the Jesuit order
• Counter reformation order
• Jesuit order approved in 1540 by Pope Paul III
• Facade design by della Porta selected over Vignola’s
• Facade devided into upper and lower zones
• della Porta becomes head architect after death of Vignola
• Baroque – Elaborately decorated interior - guilding, marble and frescos
• Linked side chapels

ID CLUE: Look for ‘starburst’ over alter with the letters IHS

Question 2

Answer 2

S. Andrea della Valle

Date: 1591 - 1628

Architect: Giacomo della Porta

Location: Rome

• Dedicated to St. Andrew - Image of his martyrdom hands behind alter
• Jesuit church
• Counter reformation
• Unlike Il Gesu: the side chapels are private for families. Side chapels are more open spatially.
• Much brighter interior because church is free standing
• Facade architects: Carlo Maderno and Carlo Rainaldi
• 4 evangelists frescoed on pendentives of dome
• Baroque style – elaborate decore, guilding

ID CLUE: Look for painting of S. Andrew over alter on the X cross

Question 3

Answer 3

S. Ignazio

Date: 1626 - 1694

Architect: Orazio Grassi

Location: Collegio Romano, Rome

• church of Collegio Romano, part of a complex
• Jesuit order
• Side chapels all connected with large openings making the series of chapels read as a continuous space – cross between side aisle and chapels
• Ceiling a painted system of architecture – ceiling painting suggests continuation of architure to the heavens
• No dome. Perspective painting put where the dome would be to suggest the upward space
• Artist for ceiling and dome painting: Andrea Pozzo
• Piazza designed after church
• Baroque style – elaborate doecoration

ID CLUES: Look for colorful ceiling that is painted to suggest contiued architecture. Look for fake dome. Look for large, open side chapels