Spanish school; 17th century. "Saint Ignatius of Loyola". Oil on canvas. Re-retouched. It presents faults and restorations. Measurements: 60 x 42 cm. Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) was a Spanish religious, founder of the Society of Jesus, military and poet. He grew up as a pupil of Juan Velázquez de Cuéllar, Accountant Major of Castile, and therefore in direct contact with the court. He was thus educated in the mastery of arms, and was able to develop his love of reading. Wounded in combat in 1521, during his convalescence his religious reading made an impression on him, and Ignatius reconsidered his life, deciding to abandon military life for religious life. This desire was strengthened by a vision of the Virgin with the Infant Jesus, which led to the soldier's definitive conversion to a religious life. From there he left with the conviction to travel to Jerusalem with the task of converting the non-Christians in the Holy Land. He subsequently studied in Alcalá de Henares, Salamanca and Paris, and finally founded the Society of Jesus in 1534. He died of illness in 1556 in his cell at the Jesuit headquarters in Rome.