Andrea Pozzo: The Art of Perspective

Abstract

The advent of the Jesuits on the Roman environment caused all kinds of fears, debates, quarrels and, above all, accuses of lack of concern toward Art. Nothing could be more misleading. In this presentation I will illustrate how they, instead, used Art to create the right and proper environment to attract the people to enter the Church, feel welcomed, at ease and willing to pay attention to the word of God. The Jesuits went insofar as to make use of the artists within their own Religious Order. The most famous one goes by the name of Andrea Pozzo whose highly ingenious talent achieved the highest illusionistic effects ever created in Art. We will talk about two of the most famous example: The Rooms of St. Ignatius in the novices’ residence and the cupola of the Church of St. Ignatius in Rome.