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St. Ignatius
Loyola
Born 23 October 1491
Died 31 July 1556
Feastday
- 31 July
Canonized - 12 March 1622 by Paul V
Statue created - c. 1667-1668
The statue was
installed between May 1667 and July 1668.
Sculptor
- Giovanni Maria de Rossi
He was paid from August 1667 to
November 1668 for eight statues.
Height
- 3.1 m. (10ft 4in) travertine
The saint is represented
with a receding hairline, hollow eyes and an intense
expression. His left hand holds open a book, that his right
hand points to, which is perhaps his "Spiritual Exercises".
The
iconography is derived from the portrait commissioned by the
Jesuits to Jacopino del Conte on the day of the Saint's death.
Ignatius was a Spanish knight who became a priest and
theologian, and founded
the Society of Jesus (Jesuits) in 1539. Loyola's devotion to
the Catholic Church was characterized by strict obedience to
the Pope.
St.
Ignatius became an expert in the art of spiritual direction.
He collected his insights in his book the 'Spiritual
Exercises'.
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