Church of the Gesù, Montepulciano

The Jesuit Order, who commissioned this church, after some initial travails, firmly settled in Montepulciano in 1606.

However concerns with the soundness of the ambitious design in this hilltop town with steep borders, caused them to recruit a design from the fellow Jesuit, Andrea Pozzo, who had shown success in creating the interior illusion of a dome in Sant'Ignazio, Rome.

The elliptical shape recalls the layout of Borromini's San Carlino alle Quattro Fontane in Rome, with rhythmic uses of columns and pilasters.

The stucco-work was completed by Francesco Notari, with four stucco statues by Bartolomeo Mazzuoli, two flanking each side chapel.

[1][2] Other churches highly influenced by Borromini's San Carlino include Santa Rita da Cascia in Campitelli.