NARRATOR:
This imposing holy man seems lost in contemplation. But tears are streaming from his eyes. We are witnessing a moment of religious ecstasy.
This painting, by the 17th-century Flemish master Peter Paul Rubens, was created at a time when the Catholic Church was rising to the challenge of the Protestant Reformation. One strategy to keep the faithful in the fold was to encourage artists to make religious experience more accessible through their paintings.
Here, the subject is Saint Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Jesuit order. When this picture was painted, about 1616, he had only recently achieved sainthood. He is identified by the opening words in the book he holds: “To the Greater Glory of God”: the Latin motto of the Jesuits.
With his brush, Rubens carves out the strong illusion of the saint standing in space above us, communicating with a force on high. He is so close and so vivid, we sense the heavy stiffness of his brocade robe. Using bravado effects of foreshortening, Rubens makes Loyola’s hand… the edge of the book… and even the toe of his shoe, appear to reach out of the picture into our space, as if we were actual witnesses to this moment of epiphany.
The saint’s tears, by the way, are no invention. According to one of his followers, St. Ignatius considered himself “deprived of consolation” if he did not weep three times during Mass.
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
c. 1616
Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577-1640)
On View
Among Rubens’ works devoted to religious subjects, the representation of saints plays an important role. Rubens created an artistic language fully adapted to the Counter-Reformation movement, which stressed the heroic, emotional and ascetic aspects of the saints’ lives. This depiction of St. Ignatius of Loyola was painted for the mother church of the Jesuit order in Rome, Il Gesù.
The founder of the Jesuits wears a brocaded chasuble and gazes ecstatically to the viewer’s right, where beams of heavenly light break through the clouds. His right hand is raised in a gesture of admonition; his left hand holds a copy of the Constitutions of the Society of Jesus, with a page open to their famous motto: “To the greater glory of God.” Ignatius, painted to be seen from below, is presented as a Christian hero, full of Baroque sentiment designed to strengthen worshippers in their belief and spur them to emulation.
Details
- Artist Name: Peter Paul Rubens (Flemish, 1577-1640)
- Title: Saint Ignatius of Loyola
- Date: c. 1616
- Culture: Flemish
- Medium: Oil on canvas
- Dimensions: 88 1/4 x 54 1/4 in. (224.2 x 137.8 cm)
- Credit Line: Norton Simon Art Foundation
- Accession Number: M.1975.03.P
- Copyright: © Norton Simon Art Foundation
Object Information
Il Gesu (Church of the Jesuits), Rome, until the late seventeenth century.
The Jesuit Church, Brussels (sale, Brussels, Lannoy, 12 May 1777, lot 2, sold to);
Donckers.
George Greville, 2nd Earl of Brooke and Warwick, by 1798.
By descent to Charles Guy Fulke Greville (1911-1984) 7th Earl of Warwick, Warwick Castle sale, (Sotheby's, London, 11 Dec. 1974, lot 36);
Norton Simon Art Foundation.
The Jesuit Church, Brussels (sale, Brussels, Lannoy, 12 May 1777, lot 2, sold to);
Donckers.
George Greville, 2nd Earl of Brooke and Warwick, by 1798.
By descent to Charles Guy Fulke Greville (1911-1984) 7th Earl of Warwick, Warwick Castle sale, (Sotheby's, London, 11 Dec. 1974, lot 36);
Norton Simon Art Foundation.
L'Art flamand dans les collections brittaniques et la Galerie National de Victoria
- Musée Communal Groeninge, 1956-08 to 1956-09
[on loan]
- Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, 1975-08-13 to 1976-01-15
Art Treasures of the United Kingdom
- Manchester, 1857-05-20 to 1857-10-17
Reinstallation of Galleries: Art History of the 17th and 18th Century Gains Fresh Dimension
- Norton Simon Museum, 1993-09-02 to 1995-08-13
Mensaert, Guillaume Pierre, Le Peintre Amateur et Curieux, ou Description générale des tableaux des plus habilles maîtres, p. 42
Decamps, Jean-Baptiste, Voyage Pittoresque de la Flandre et du Barbant, p. 64
Michel, J. F. M., Histoire de la Vie de P. P. Rubens, Chevalier, & Seigneur de Steen, pp. 69-70
Gentleman's Magazine, p. 836
Goede, Christian Augustus Gottlieb, England, Wales, Irland und Schottland; Erinnerungen an Natur und Kunst aus einer Reise in de Jahren 1802-1803, pp. 281-282
Field, William, An Historical and Descriptive Account of the Town Castle of Warwick; and of the Neighbouring Spa of Leamington, pp. 186-188
Smith, John, A Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of the most Eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French Painters, vol. 2, p. 51; vol. 9 (1842), p. 258
Passavant, J., Kunstreise durch England und Belgien, p. 219
Passavant, J., Tour of a German Artist in England: With Notices of Private Galleries, and Remarks on the State of Art, p. 83
Waagen, Gustav, Kunstwerke und Kunstler in England und Paris, p. 367
Waagen, Gustav, Kunstwerke und Künstler in England und Paris, p. 367
Waagen, Gustav, Treasures of Art in Great Britain, pp. 214-215
Burger, W., Trèsors d'Art Exposés à Manchester en 1857, p. 195
Rooses, Max, L'Oeuvre de P. P. Rubens Historie et description de ses tableaux et dessins, pp. 285-286, no. 449
Dillon, E., Rubens, p. 237
Burchard, Ludwig, Actes du XIIe Congrés International d' Histoire de l'Art, pp. 127-128
Guide to Warwick Castle Collection, p. 49
Greville, Elfrida Marjorie, Countess Brooke and Countess of Warwick, Warwick Castle. A Brief Account of the Earls of Warwick, together with a Description of Castle and Some of the More Notable Works of Art therein (1930-1931), p. 50
Evers, H. G., Peter Paul Rubens, pp. 493, no. 187
Puyvelde, Leo van, Rubens, pp. 206-207
Anonymous, L'Art Flemand dans les collections Britanniques et la Galerie Nationale de Victoria, no. 66
Grossmann, F., The Burlington Magazine, p. 6
Puyvelde, Leo van, Gazette des Beaux Arts, pp. 231-232
Brussels, Musees Royaux de Beaux Arts de Belgique, Le siècle de Rubens, p. 188
Lesuisse, R., Annales de la Societé Archéologique et Folklorique de Nivelles et du Barbant Wallon, pp. 281-317
Vlieghe, H., Saints II [Corpus Rubenianum Ludwig Buchard, Part VIII}, vol. 2, part 8, pp. 68-71, no. 113, fig. 36
Morse, John D., Old Master Paintings in North America, pp. 242, 370
Farington, Joseph, Diary of Joseph Farington, p. 1588
Cohen, A.; R. Cohen, E. Young and E. Cohen, Trafalgar Galleries at the Royal Academy II, p. 13
Norton Simon Museum, Selected Paintings at the Norton Simon Museum, p. 47
Scheelen, W., Konindlijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Jaarboek, pp. 153-172
Buttery, David, Antique Collector, p. 42
Jaffé, Michael, Catalogo Completo Rubens, p. 189, no. 203
Masterpieces from the Norton Simon Museum, p. 40
Bauman, Guy; and Walter A. Liedtke, et al., Flemish Paintings in America: A Survey of Early Netherlandish and Flemish Paintings in the Public Collections of North America, p. 364, fig. 424
Liedtke, Walter, Flemish Paintings in America: A Survey of Early Netherlandish and Flemish Paintings in the Public Collections of North America, fig. 424 p. 364
Roethlisberger, Marcel and M. J. Bok, Abraham Bloemart and his Sons. Paintings and Prints, vol. I, pp. 434-435, CAT. C27; vol II, p. 253, fig. 541pp. 434-435; p. 253
Scannelli, F., Il Microcosmo della pittura, p. 205
Morris, Michael, O.P., Magnificat, pp. I-VI
Campbell, Sara, Collector Without Walls: Norton Simon and His Hunt for the Best, cat. 1119 p. 373
Sauerlander, Willihald, Der Katholische Rubens. Uber die Heilifien und Martyrer, Fig. 29 p. 87
Sauerländer, Willibald, The Catholic Rubens: Saints and Martyrs, 29 p. 84
Decamps, Jean-Baptiste, Voyage Pittoresque de la Flandre et du Barbant, p. 64
Michel, J. F. M., Histoire de la Vie de P. P. Rubens, Chevalier, & Seigneur de Steen, pp. 69-70
Gentleman's Magazine, p. 836
Goede, Christian Augustus Gottlieb, England, Wales, Irland und Schottland; Erinnerungen an Natur und Kunst aus einer Reise in de Jahren 1802-1803, pp. 281-282
Field, William, An Historical and Descriptive Account of the Town Castle of Warwick; and of the Neighbouring Spa of Leamington, pp. 186-188
Smith, John, A Catalogue Raisonné of the Works of the most Eminent Dutch, Flemish, and French Painters, vol. 2, p. 51; vol. 9 (1842), p. 258
Passavant, J., Kunstreise durch England und Belgien, p. 219
Passavant, J., Tour of a German Artist in England: With Notices of Private Galleries, and Remarks on the State of Art, p. 83
Waagen, Gustav, Kunstwerke und Kunstler in England und Paris, p. 367
Waagen, Gustav, Kunstwerke und Künstler in England und Paris, p. 367
Waagen, Gustav, Treasures of Art in Great Britain, pp. 214-215
Burger, W., Trèsors d'Art Exposés à Manchester en 1857, p. 195
Rooses, Max, L'Oeuvre de P. P. Rubens Historie et description de ses tableaux et dessins, pp. 285-286, no. 449
Dillon, E., Rubens, p. 237
Burchard, Ludwig, Actes du XIIe Congrés International d' Histoire de l'Art, pp. 127-128
Guide to Warwick Castle Collection, p. 49
Greville, Elfrida Marjorie, Countess Brooke and Countess of Warwick, Warwick Castle. A Brief Account of the Earls of Warwick, together with a Description of Castle and Some of the More Notable Works of Art therein (1930-1931), p. 50
Evers, H. G., Peter Paul Rubens, pp. 493, no. 187
Puyvelde, Leo van, Rubens, pp. 206-207
Anonymous, L'Art Flemand dans les collections Britanniques et la Galerie Nationale de Victoria, no. 66
Grossmann, F., The Burlington Magazine, p. 6
Puyvelde, Leo van, Gazette des Beaux Arts, pp. 231-232
Brussels, Musees Royaux de Beaux Arts de Belgique, Le siècle de Rubens, p. 188
Lesuisse, R., Annales de la Societé Archéologique et Folklorique de Nivelles et du Barbant Wallon, pp. 281-317
Vlieghe, H., Saints II [Corpus Rubenianum Ludwig Buchard, Part VIII}, vol. 2, part 8, pp. 68-71, no. 113, fig. 36
Morse, John D., Old Master Paintings in North America, pp. 242, 370
Farington, Joseph, Diary of Joseph Farington, p. 1588
Cohen, A.; R. Cohen, E. Young and E. Cohen, Trafalgar Galleries at the Royal Academy II, p. 13
Norton Simon Museum, Selected Paintings at the Norton Simon Museum, p. 47
Scheelen, W., Konindlijk Museum voor Schone Kunsten Jaarboek, pp. 153-172
Buttery, David, Antique Collector, p. 42
Jaffé, Michael, Catalogo Completo Rubens, p. 189, no. 203
Masterpieces from the Norton Simon Museum, p. 40
Bauman, Guy; and Walter A. Liedtke, et al., Flemish Paintings in America: A Survey of Early Netherlandish and Flemish Paintings in the Public Collections of North America, p. 364, fig. 424
Liedtke, Walter, Flemish Paintings in America: A Survey of Early Netherlandish and Flemish Paintings in the Public Collections of North America, fig. 424 p. 364
Roethlisberger, Marcel and M. J. Bok, Abraham Bloemart and his Sons. Paintings and Prints, vol. I, pp. 434-435, CAT. C27; vol II, p. 253, fig. 541pp. 434-435; p. 253
Scannelli, F., Il Microcosmo della pittura, p. 205
Morris, Michael, O.P., Magnificat, pp. I-VI
Campbell, Sara, Collector Without Walls: Norton Simon and His Hunt for the Best, cat. 1119 p. 373
Sauerlander, Willihald, Der Katholische Rubens. Uber die Heilifien und Martyrer, Fig. 29 p. 87
Sauerländer, Willibald, The Catholic Rubens: Saints and Martyrs, 29 p. 84
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