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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Saint-Pierre de Nevers church, of classical style, was built between 1612 and 1676 on a Greek cross plan, at the initiative of the Jesuits installed in the city since 1572. Originally dedicated to Saint John the Baptist (a statue of which still adorns the façade), it was severely damaged by bombings in 1944 before being classified as a historical monument in 1975. Its exterior mixes doric and ionic orders, with a carved frieze evoking the Passion of Christ and statues of the Virgin and Saint John the Baptist.

The interior houses trompe-l'oeil frescoes made at the end of the seventeenth century by Italian artists, including Giovanni Gherardini and Jean-Baptiste Sabatini. The vault of the choir represents Ascension and Pentecost, while the dome celebrates the Holy Trinity and the Virgin, surrounded by the elect. The chapel of the Virgin illustrates Marian scenes (Annunciation, Visitation), and that of Saint Peter glorifies Francis-Xavier, patron of the Jesuits. A canvas of the brothers The Nain adorns the choir, and mosaics in enamels of Briare (1924) pave the nave.

The church embodies the artistic and religious heritage of Nevers, marked by Jesuit influence and exchanges with Italy. Its classification in 1975 underlines its heritage value, despite the destructions of 1944. The frescoes, rare examples of baroque quadraturism in France, testify to the know-how of Italian painters invited to work on the spot, as attested by the archives of Gherardini.

The facade, sober but elegant, contrasts with the inner richness, where Christian symbols and allegories unfold. The pots and frieze of the Passion reflect counter-reform iconography, while the mosaics of the 20th century recall modern restorations. The building, owned by the commune, remains a place of worship and a testimony to the urban and spiritual history of Nevers.

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