St.Ignatius was the main promoter of the counter-reformation, which gave rise to the Baroque style and period, so it is only fitting that his church in Rome (completed in 1650) is a prime example of Baroque art and architecture.

Amid all the colorful inlaid marble floors, the flying angels and cupids, the depth perspective frescoed ceilings, etc., the last thing one expects to see is a 350+ year old Native American. But there she is, sitting astride her shield with “America” written on it, with a cougar growling ferociously to her side.

She is representing one of the four continents of the time (Africa, America, Asia, and Europe), each frescoed onto one of the four main vaults of the ceiling as testimony of the reach of the Society of Jesus (or Jesuit’s) mission at the time.

Also of interest is the faux dome of the church, (left) quite realistic looking about half-way down the central nave. Walk under it though and you can see that it is a wonderfully executed trompe l’oeil. The church, part of the greater Jesuit’s College, is a great stop just around of the corner from the Pantheon. It is located in . . surprise . . Piazza di Sant’Ignazio.

(Images courtesy of Chiesa Di Sant’Ignazio and of I.F. Web Engineering.)