Apotheosis of Saint Ignatius
Artist: Andrea Pozzo
1685 - -94
Painting
This fresco depicts the triumph of St. Ignatius, founder of the Jesuits, shown left of center in his grey cassock extending toward Christ, who holds a cross in the middle. All the light in the fresco comes from Christ, emphasized both by the golden swirling center and the gradually darkening color palette in the figures at a greater distance. The ray then breaks into four diagonal rays, representing the light of Christianity reaching the four continents of the world, and symbolizes the missionary work of the Jesuits. Also depicted are many Biblical warriors with their foes including David and Goliath, Jael and Sisera, Samson and the Philistines, and Judith and Holofernes. This innovative choice of subject matter reflected the militant Catholicism of the Counter-Reformation and the apostolic zeal of the Jesuits, seeing themselves as "warriors" for the faith.
This Fresco is in the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola at Campus Martius, Rome, Italy
Assumption of the Virgin
Artist: Titian
1516-18
Painting
Among the religious paintings Titian produced between 1516 and 1538 this is one of his most revolutionary masterpieces, the Assumption (1516–18). This large and at the same time monumental composition occupies the high altar of Santa Maria dei Frari in Venice, a position that fully justifies the spectacular nature of the Virgin’s triumph as she ascends heavenward, accompanied by a large semicircular array of angels, while the startled Apostles gesticulate in astonishment at the miracle. When the painting was unveiled, it was quickly recognized as the work of a very great genius.
This religious scene commemorates the assumption of Mary which is celebrated annually within the Catholic Church, and it was painted as the first popular commissioned work of Titian for the city of Venice between 1516 and 1518. The painting still stands in the same place that it was originally created for: the altar of Santa Maria Gloriosa dei Frari Basilica.
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