Saint Aloysius Gonzaga

Aloysius Gonzaga was born in Castiglione delle Stivieri, in the region of Lombardy, present-day Italy. He renounced his princely origins in the Gonzaga household and, disobeying his father, who wanted him to pursue a military career, decided to devote himself to religious life.

Before being ordained, he transferred his family rights and duties to his brother Rudolf and made his way to Rome. His time in the Society was brief, as he died while caring for those affected by the plague.

In this portrait, we see the saint dressed in Jesuit attire: black cassock and cape. A halo of light, a sign of his holiness, surrounds his head. 

There are many attributes that are usually associated with Aloysius Gonzaga: the crucifix, the disciplines, the skull or even the prince's crown. However, none of them are shown in this image. 

In this portrait, only one iconographic attribute is identified: a bouquet of lilies that the saint holds in his right hand. This symbolizes the purity and humility with which the saint lived in the last years of his life. 

In the upper part of the painting, on either side of the saint’s head, there is an inscription in red painting that clarifies the identity of the person represented: "S. LUIS GONSSAGA." 

This portrait is located on the western wall of the former Santa Clara church and is part of a group of portraits of Jesuit saints who had no relationship with the Franciscan saint or the spirituality of that order.