Saint Ignatius of Loyola
1620 Norton Simon Museum
About this artwork
This oil on canvas painting depicts Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Society of Jesus, dressed in ornate liturgical vestments and gesturing toward a book on a pedestal. It is a work associated with the Counter-Reformation, emphasizing the importance of the Jesuit order.
Did you know?
Peter Paul Rubens was one of the most prolific artists of the Baroque era and was deeply involved in the religious fervor of the Counter-Reformation. This painting captures the spirit of Saint Ignatius, whose motto 'Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam'—for the greater glory of God—is explicitly inscribed on the open book in the painting. The dramatic use of light and the saint's upward gaze reflect the intense religious zeal that defined the Jesuit movement during the 17th century.
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Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Peter Paul Rubens, 1620
