La iglesia de los Jesuitas en Cusco como un modelo para la arquitectura de la región

At the end of the first half of the 17th century, a “European” character of Peruvian architecture was loosened. In 1650, an earthquake in Cusco destroyed existing buildings and, as the result, proved to be an impetus for building movement intensification. One of a few buildings which were not destroyed was a still unfinished Cusco cathedral, which later played a unique role in baroque architecture development in Peru. The temple was undoubtedly one of the first productions which could be associated with a baroque style. However, without diminishing the significance of the object, it is worth emphasizing other (not less important) sources of baroque architecture in the region. Another temple that undoubtedly influenced the shaping of a new trend in local building was a Jesuit church in Cusco. Mentioned as an important object for Peruvian architecture of the colonial period, it is usually treated as an element in the sequence of baroque architecture development in Peru. It is worth emphasizing the role that the temple played in creation of certain architectural models, which were present in Peruvian building of the late 17th and 18th centuries. Three analysed elements are: a facade composition (influence on the architecture of Cusco: San Pedro, Nuestra Señora de Belén, San Sebastián and the region – temples in Ayaviri, Asillo, Mamara, Huaquira, Puno); a design, a spatial layout and a structural system (similarity to a Jesuit church in Cusco of the temples of San Pedro in Cusco, San Pedro in Juli, Santiago de Pomata, Pisco); decorative-ornamental motifs – towers’ finials (San Pedro in Cusco) or columns’ decoration (Santa Cruz in Juli).