Which Baroque painter created the ceiling fresco 'The Triumph of the Name of Jesus' in the Church of the Gesù?

Giovanni Battista Gaulli created the ceiling fresco “The Triumph of the Name of Jesus” in Rome’s Church of the Gesù.

Also known as Baciccio, Gaulli painted the vast work between 1661 and 1679 for the Jesuit church. Its subject is the adoration and triumph of the name of Jesus, represented by the radiant IHS monogram at the center of the heavenly vision. The fresco occupies the nave vault and combines painted figures with stucco decoration.

The work is famous for its theatrical illusionism. Angels and blessed souls appear to break through the architectural frame, while the damned seem to tumble out of the heavenly light toward the viewer. This blending of painting, sculpture, architecture, and dramatic perspective is a hallmark of High Baroque art.

Gian Lorenzo Bernini helped Gaulli secure the commission and influenced the work’s grand, emotionally immersive style. A common mix-up is Andrea Pozzo, another Baroque master celebrated for illusionistic church ceilings, especially in Rome’s Sant’Ignazio. Gaulli’s masterpiece, however, belongs specifically to Il Gesù.