The Church of Saint Louis of France, located in the historic district of

Seville Seville (; es, Sevilla, ) is the capital and largest city of the Spanish autonomous community of Andalusia and the province of Seville. It is situated on the lower reaches of the River Guadalquivir, in the southwest of the Iberian Peninsula ...

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

, represents an example of

Baroque architecture Baroque architecture is a highly decorative and theatrical style which appeared in Italy in the early 17th century and gradually spread across Europe. It was originally introduced by the Catholic Church, particularly by the Jesuits, as a means t ...

in the 18th century. The church was designed by the architect Leonardo of Figueroa and constructed between 1699 and 1730 on behalf of the

Society of Jesus , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

. Following the expulsion of the Jesuits from Spain in 1835, it had different uses and was eventually

deconsecrated Deconsecration, also called secularization, is the act of removing a religious blessing from something that had been previously consecrated by a minister or priest of that religion. The practice is usually performed on churches or synagogues to b ...

. The building currently belongs to the .

History

The

Society of Jesus , image = Ihs-logo.svg , image_size = 175px , caption = ChristogramOfficial seal of the Jesuits , abbreviation = SJ , nickname = Jesuits , formation = , founders ...

arrived in Seville in 1554 and constructed a

church Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship * Chris ...

, a

professed house In the Society of Jesus, a professed house was a residence where - in a spirit of radical poverty - no member had a stable income. The Jesuit priests who lived there, all of whom have made the profession of the four vows, undertake their spiritual ...

and a

novitiate The novitiate, also called the noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a Christian ''novice'' (or ''prospective'') monastic, apostolic, or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether ...

. Of these, only the has been preserved. At the beginning of the seventeenth century, Lucia de Medina donated land for a new, larger building and a new church with the conditions that she would be buried in the chapel and that the church be dedicated to her patron saint, Saint Louis (

Louis IX of France Louis IX (25 April 1214 – 25 August 1270), commonly known as Saint Louis or Louis the Saint, was King of France from 1226 to 1270, and the most illustrious of the Direct Capetians. He was crowned in Reims at the age of 12, following the ...

, medieval king and first brother of King Ferdinand III of Castile and León, who reconquered Seville.) Another factor that influenced the dedication to Saint Louis was that the Jesuits wanted to build a relationship with the Spanish monarchy, especially with the new French dynasty that started with

Phillip V Philip, also Phillip, is a male given name, derived from the Greek (''Philippos'', lit. "horse-loving" or "fond of horses"), from a compound of (''philos'', "dear", "loved", "loving") and (''hippos'', "horse"). Prominent Philips who popularize ...

, and thus avoid being expelled. Representations within the church of the crown (an attribute of kings) and the

fleur de lis The fleur-de-lis, also spelled fleur-de-lys (plural ''fleurs-de-lis'' or ''fleurs-de-lys''), is a lily (in French, and mean 'flower' and 'lily' respectively) that is used as a decorative design or symbol. The fleur-de-lis has been used in the ...

(a symbol of the

House of Bourbon The House of Bourbon (, also ; ) is a European dynasty of French origin, a branch of the Capetian dynasty, the royal House of France. Bourbon kings first ruled France and Navarre in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Spanis ...

, also represented on the

Spanish coat of arms The coat of arms of Spain represents Spain and the Spanish nation, including its national sovereignty and the country's form of government, a constitutional monarchy. It appears on the flag of Spain and it is used by the Government of Spain, the Co ...

), emphasize the link between the monarchs and the

Catholic church The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

. By 1609, the novitiate had already been moved. Construction of the church began in 1699 and ended in 1730. In 1731, archbishop inaugurated the building as Church Saint Louis of France. The Jesuits abandoned the church in 1767 as a result of the Royal Order of Carlos III that expelled the Jesuits from Spain. Although they returned in 1817, the expulsion of 1835 forced them to abandon the complex altogether. Since that time, the novitiate has had various uses: seminary, Franciscan convent, hospital for venerated priests, a factory, and a hospice. The church remained closed and not used for worship for many years. Unlike many other churches in Seville, Saint Louis was saved from destruction by the fires of 1936. Because of this, and its period of disuse, many parts of the original design have been preserved. Currently, the church belongs to the . This institution has provided for the restoration of the monument since 1984. It has worked with the Seville Endesa Foundation to provide the artistic lighting of the church, domestic chapel and crypt. On September 6, 2016, the most recent renovations were inaugurated, opening the buildings and art works for public viewing.

Architecture

Orientation

The church is oriented along the

analemma In astronomy, an analemma (; ) is a diagram showing the position of the Sun in the sky as seen from a fixed location on Earth at the same mean solar time, as that position varies over the course of a year. The diagram will resemble a figure ei ...

, or route of the Sun in the sky, in a manner such that the altar to the west receives an abundance of light, especially in spring. The main door faces the east, towards the rising sun. The altar of Saint Stanislaus Kostka, to the north, and the altar of

Saint Francis Borgia Francis Borgia ( ca-valencia, Francesc de Borja; es, Francisco de Borja; 28 October 1510 – 30 September 1572) was a Spanish Jesuit priest. The great-grandson of Pope Alexander VI, he was Duke of Gandía and a grandee of Spain. After t ...

, to the south, receive light the celebratory day of each saint.

Exterior

The facade consists of two levels, each decorated as a

reredo A reredos ( , , ) is a large altarpiece, a screen, or decoration placed behind the altar in a church. It often includes religious images. The term ''reredos'' may also be used for similar structures, if elaborate, in secular architecture, for ex ...

. The levels alternate between stone and brick construction. The façade is flanked by two octagonal towers. The second level includes five windows, with the center window framed by

Solomonic columns The Solomonic column, also called Barley-sugar column, is a helix, helical column, characterized by a spiraling twisting shaft like a corkscrew. It is not associated with a specific classical order, although most examples have Corinthian order, Cor ...

. Above the central window, the

is crowned with three

archangels Archangels () are the second lowest rank of angel in the hierarchy of angels. The word ''archangel'' itself is usually associated with the Abrahamic religions, but beings that are very similar to archangels are found in a number of other relig ...

. The façade does not accurately represent the shape nor size of the church. The Jesuits had planned to include a plaza in front of the church so that the full dome and façade could be seen, but the plaza was never constructed.

Interior

The floor plan forms a

Greek cross The Christian cross, with or without a figure of Christ included, is the main religious symbol of Christianity. A cross with a figure of Christ affixed to it is termed a ''crucifix'' and the figure is often referred to as the ''corpus'' (La ...

, capped by a

cupola In architecture, a cupola () is a relatively small, most often dome-like, tall structure on top of a building. Often used to provide a lookout or to admit light and air, it usually crowns a larger roof or dome. The word derives, via Italian, from ...

. Sixteen

(eight full columns and eight half columns) appear to support the weight of the

. The

is actually supported by four recessed stone pillars that form the interior chapels. Four smaller altarpieces form part of the disguise for the pillars, which also includes four balconies and four

latticework __NOTOC__ Latticework is an openwork framework consisting of a criss-crossed pattern of strips of building material, typically wood or metal. The design is created by crossing the strips to form a grid or weave. Latticework may be functional &nda ...

s. Of the sixteen

, only the two half columns of the main altar are original. The remaining belong to the 2016 restoration. The stone pillars are covered with stucco but remain unpainted. The second level includes a platform with eight semi-circular

arches An arch is a vertical curved structure that spans an elevated space and may or may not support the weight above it, or in case of a horizontal arch like an arch dam, the hydrostatic pressure against it. Arches may be synonymous with vault ...

and a set of balconies with lattices on the supporting pillars. Below the choir, the paintings above the main door of the church are dedicated to

Saint Ignatius of Loyola Ignatius of Loyola, S.J. (born Íñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola; eu, Ignazio Loiolakoa; es, Ignacio de Loyola; la, Ignatius de Loyola; – 31 July 1556), venerated as Saint Ignatius of Loyola, was a Spanish Catholic priest and theologian, ...

. These are works of Domingo Martinez, painted circa 1743. In the scene, Saint Ignatius appears above the temple of divine wisdom, represented as a

triumphal arch A triumphal arch is a free-standing monumental structure in the shape of an archway with one or more arched passageways, often designed to span a road. In its simplest form a triumphal arch consists of two massive piers connected by an arch, crow ...

that holds the book of

Spiritual Exercises The ''Spiritual Exercises'' ( la, Exercitia spiritualia), composed 1522–1524, are a set of Christian meditations, contemplations, and prayers written by Ignatius of Loyola, a 16th-century Spanish priest, theologian, and founder of the Society ...

. The sides of the entrance employ two allegorical murals defending the Jesuits against detractors. The murals use two papal bulls ( regimini militantis Ecclesiae and ad sacram) that authorized and validated the Jesuits and the

. In the painting on the right can be seen a mythological theme. "The figures of the three graces are dressed, bearing horns of abundance and are identified by their names:

Aglaea Aglaea () or Aglaïa (; grc, Ἀγλαΐα, lit=festive radiance) is one of the three ''Charites'' or ''Gratiae'' (Graces) in Greek mythology. Family According to Hesiod, Aglaea is the youngest of the Charites, the three daughters of Zeus a ...

(joy),

Thalia Thalia, Thalía, Thaleia or Thalian may refer to: People * Thalia (given name), including a list of people with the name * Thalía (born 1971), Mexican singer and actress Mythological and fictional characters * Thalia (Grace), one of the three ...

(obedience and comedy), and

Euphrosyne Euphrosyne (; grc, Εὐφροσύνη), in ancient Greek religion and mythology, was one of the Charites, known in ancient Rome as the ''Gratiae'' (Graces). She was sometimes called Euthymia (Εὐθυμία) or Eutychia (Εὐτυχία). Fa ...

(delight). They preserve Seneca's interpretation, as a triple image of liberality: giving, accepting and returning benefits or gifts." Saint Louis is a

, a place that serves to educate and thus is replete with symbols with multiple meanings. Above the door can be read, “This is the door of God, the righteous enter through it.” The church serves as a probationary house, where guests and delegations live closed off to communications with the outside world. Theatrical repetition is a technique used by the architect. In some instances, it can be repetition by through symmetry, such as two equal parts divided by an axis. In other instances, is reiteration of a single element, as with the four representations of Saint Ignatius. The

eight-pointed star In geometry, an octagram is an eight-angled star polygon. The name ''octagram'' combine a Greek numeral prefix, '' octa-'', with the Greek suffix ''-gram''. The ''-gram'' suffix derives from γραμμή (''grammḗ'') meaning "line". Detai ...

is found in many places. The

, the spiral, the

, and the saints are all repeated throughout the church and chapel. The altarpieces are full of convex Venetian mirrors, made of tin and mercury. The mirrors serve to reflect light, sending it to other points. This multiplies the effect of the light, as well as deforms and enlarges reality. Further, the mirrors call upon the motto “ speculum sine macula”, attributed to the

Virgin Mary Mary; arc, ܡܪܝܡ, translit=Mariam; ar, مريم, translit=Maryam; grc, Μαρία, translit=María; la, Maria; cop, Ⲙⲁⲣⲓⲁ, translit=Maria was a first-century Jewish woman of Nazareth, the wife of Joseph and the mother o ...

. Within Saint Louis exist constant reminders of the perishable world, as seen in the eight skulls.

Cupola

Entering the temple from the main doors, visitors can look directly up into the dome with its large windows, offering an abundance of light. On the dome interior opposite the entrance a representation of

Religio The Latin term ''religiō'', the origin of the modern lexeme ''religion'' (via Old French/ Middle Latin), is of ultimately obscure etymology. It is recorded beginning in the 1st century BC, i.e. in Classical Latin at the end of the Roman Republ ...

can be seen. The figure is flanked by a

cross A cross is a geometrical figure consisting of two intersecting lines or bars, usually perpendicular to each other. The lines usually run vertically and horizontally. A cross of oblique lines, in the shape of the Latin letter X, is termed a sa ...

on the right and a

palm leaf The Arecaceae is a family of perennial flowering plants in the monocot order Arecales. Their growth form can be climbers, shrubs, tree-like and stemless plants, all commonly known as palms. Those having a tree-like form are called palm trees ...

on the left - both symbols relating to the

Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other Names and titles of Jesus in the New Testament, names and titles), was ...

figure. The frescos around Religio, painted by Lucas de Valdés, include symbols from both the old and new testaments, including a menorah, the

Altar of Incense Altars ( he, מִזְבֵּחַ, ''mizbeaḥ'', "a place of slaughter or sacrifice") in the Hebrew Bible were typically made of earth () or unwrought stone (). Altars were generally erected in conspicuous places (; ; ; ; ). The first altar recorded ...

, the

Ark of the Covenant The Ark of the Covenant,; Ge'ez: also known as the Ark of the Testimony or the Ark of God, is an alleged artifact believed to be the most sacred relic of the Israelites, which is described as a wooden chest, covered in pure gold, with an e ...

and the

Eucharist The Eucharist (; from Greek , , ), also known as Holy Communion and the Lord's Supper, is a Christian rite that is considered a sacrament in most churches, and as an ordinance in others. According to the New Testament, the rite was instit ...

. The pillars supporting the dome represent eight virtues, as related to the

Beatitudes The Beatitudes are sayings attributed to Jesus, and in particular eight blessings recounted by Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount in the Gospel of Matthew, and four in the Sermon on the Plain in the Gospel of Luke, followed by four woes which mirr ...

. Starting from the figure of Religio and moving clockwise, they are: * CHARITAS PROXIMI - Love of Neighbor; Blessed are the merciful. * CASTITAS - Chastity; Blessed are the pure of heart. * ORATIO - Prayer; Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. * HUMILITAS - Humility; Blessed are those who suffer persecution. * MORTIFICATO - Mortification; Blessed are those who mourn. * OBIENTIA - Obedience; Blessed are the meek. * PAUPERTAS - Poverty; Blessed are the poor in spirit. * CHARITAS DEI - Love of God; Blessed are the peacemakers.

References

{{reflist * Content in this English version is based on the existing Spanish Wikipedia article at: Iglesia de San Luis de los Franceses (Sevilla); see its history for attribution. Buildings and structures in Seville Religious buildings and structures completed in 1730 Baroque architecture in Seville Former churches in Spain