in 1550, and Michealangelo was called in to design it in 1554, but Vignola's designs were approved. The construction finally started when Cardinal Alessandro Farnese made a large financial contribution in 1586. Giovanni Tristano, a Jesuit father, and an architectural expert, who worked on other Jesuit churches prior to Il Gesu, directed the building. It is assumed that by 1571, Vignola's plans did not satisfy Tristano, because Giacomo della Porta was called to design the faade. The ground plan of the church was Vignola's plans, while the vaulting of the nave and the faade were Porta's.In the early 17th century, the tunnel-vault over the nave was stuccoed in plain with. In the middle of the 17th century, the vault was decorated with polychrome stucco and frescos. In the 19th century, the twin pilasters were faced with marble.Historical Significance: Saint Ignatuis Loyola, a friend of Michelangelo founded The Society of Jesus in 1540, yet Vignola's plans were approved. The influence of Vignola's Il Gesu was so great, that it became almost a standard type of church plan and church faade. The architectural ideas of Il Gesu contributed greatly to forming the type of the Baroque longitudinal church. ResourcesWolfflin, Heinrich (1964). Renaissance and Baroque. pp. 20-21, 42, 48, 113-14, 161.Murray, Peter (1969). The Architecture of the Italian Renaissance. pp. 9, 198, 200, 204, 219, 148-51.Lotz, Wolfgang (1974). Architecture in Italy. pp. 120-121, 140-141, 167.Gromort, Georges. Italian Renaissance Architecture. pp. 111, 113....
