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Saint Paul the Apostle Church

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Saint Patrick Altar <br><br> John LaFarge designed the Saint Patrick shrine and William Laurel Harris painted the altar. Harris did most of the painting in the church including life size paintings of prophets or saints on side chapel walls. However in the 1950s, 14 of Harris’s Saints were tragically painted over with gray paint during a disastrous cleaning; the reason given was that some paint was peeling. In 1993 the church was repainted with the original color scheme but the lost decorative paintings could not be saved. However, the renovation did preserve many of his most important works including the Saint Patrick and Saint Catherine altars, according to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Laurel_Harris">Wikipedia.</a> <br><br> Today, the church is active in working with artists, sponsoring art exhibits at the church, providing networking opportunities, and fostering dialog in the artistic community. <a href="http://openingsny.com/">Openings NY</a>, a project of the Paulist Fathers for artists, has regular exhibits (generally at the church) exploring broad spiritual themes. A recent exhibit explored the elusive mystery of spirit, body, and soul through a variety of visual media, including photography, painting, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture while another featured the work of Iraqi refugees. Frank Sabatté is the director of Openings NY. Frank is an artist and Paulist father and his work is presented on his <a href="http://www.sabatteart.com/">website.</a> Frank kindly provided me with detailed information on the church that I have used in this gallery.
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Saint Patrick Altar

John LaFarge designed the Saint Patrick shrine and William Laurel Harris painted the altar. Harris did most of the painting in the church including life size paintings of prophets or saints on side chapel walls. However in the 1950s, 14 of Harris’s Saints were tragically painted over with gray paint during a disastrous cleaning; the reason given was that some paint was peeling. In 1993 the church was repainted with the original color scheme but the lost decorative paintings could not be saved. However, the renovation did preserve many of his most important works including the Saint Patrick and Saint Catherine altars, according to Wikipedia.

Today, the church is active in working with artists, sponsoring art exhibits at the church, providing networking opportunities, and fostering dialog in the artistic community. Openings NY, a project of the Paulist Fathers for artists, has regular exhibits (generally at the church) exploring broad spiritual themes. A recent exhibit explored the elusive mystery of spirit, body, and soul through a variety of visual media, including photography, painting, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture while another featured the work of Iraqi refugees. Frank Sabatté is the director of Openings NY. Frank is an artist and Paulist father and his work is presented on his website. Frank kindly provided me with detailed information on the church that I have used in this gallery.

Kent Beckernot my day job photographychurchcathedralphotoSaint PaulSaint Paul the ApostleSt PaulNew YorkCatholic

  • Saint Paul the Apostle Church <br><br> Saint Paul the Apostle church is a beautiful Roman Catholic church near Lincoln Center in Manhattan filled with great paintings, statues, and decorations from noted American artists. <br><br> According to <a href="http://www.stpaultheapostle.org/subsectioncontent.php?secid=10&subsecid=33">the church website</a> the church was the fulfillment of the ideals and hopes of Father Isaac Thomas Hecker, “…who dreamed of building a noble basilica that would combine the artistic ideals of the past, with the American genius of his day. After visiting and studying noted European churches, he communicated his ideas to the architect Jeremiah O'Rourke who drew up the plans for the present building. Father George Deshon, one of the original Paulists, and a West Point engineer, later took over as architect-in-charge and brought the church to completion in January 1885. Inspired by the 4th & 5th century early Christian basilicas in Ravenna, Italy, the church is 284 feet long, 121 feet wide, and 114 feet to the highest point of the towers, which are 38 feet square. The grand exterior of the church reflects 13th century Old Gothic. “ <br><br> Father Hecker called the church “an experiment in democracy in American art.” He engaged eminent American artists such as John LaFarge, students of Augustus Saint-Gaudens such as Bela Pratt, Frederick MacMonnies, Philip Martiny and Charles Keck (contrary to several sources, there is no artwork from Saint-Gaudens in the church), Stanford White, and later, William Laurel Harris to decorate the church with many beautiful stained glass windows, murals, and sculptures. <br><br> White, LaFarge, and Harris were instrumental in designing and decorating the church. <br><br> Stanford White (1853-1906) designed interior elements of the church between 1887-1890. White was an American architect who designed many houses for the rich, public, institutional, and religious buildings. His design principles embodied the “American Renaissance” according to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stanford_White">Wikipédia.</a> His most prominent design is the Washington Square Arch at Washington Square in Manhattan; other Manhattan designs include Madison Square Presbyterian Church, the second Madison Square Garden (demolished in 1925), Judson Memorial Church, and the Century, Metropolitan, Players, Lambs, Colony, and Harmony clubs. He designed Fifth Avenue mansions for Astor, Vanderbilt and other high society families. Designs outside of Manhattan include the old Cabell Hall at the University of Virginia, First Methodist Episcopal Church in Baltimore, and the Cosmopolitan Building in Irvington New York. White was murdered in 1906 during a theatrical show at Madison Square Garden. He was killed by a millionaire with a history of severe mental instability. The murder trial was dubbed the “Trial of the Century” and was played up by the newspapers of William Randolph Hearst. <br><br> John LaFarge (1835-1910) was an American painter, muralist, and stained glass window maker. He was born in New York City. Initially intending to study law, he changed his mind after visiting Paris in 1856. He studied with Thomas Couture. Another of Couture’s students was Edouard Manet. See Couture’s frescoes of the Virgin Mary in my gallery on Saint-Eustache. According to to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_LaFarge">Wikipedia, </a> LaFarge's earliest drawings and landscapes in Newport, Rhode Island (where he studied with painter William Morris Hunt) show originality, especially in the handling of color values. <br><br> His first work in mural painting was in the Trinity Church in Boston in 1873. Aside from Saint Paul the Apostle, his other church works include the large altarpiece at the Church of the Ascension and Saint Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University. He created four great lunettes (a half-moon shaped space) representing the history of law at the Minnesota State Capital and a similar series based on the theme of Justice for the State Supreme Court building in Baltimore, Maryland. He was a pioneer in the study of Japanese art. “LaFarge made extensive travels in Asia and the South Pacific, which inspired his painting. He visited Japan in 1886, and the South Seas in 1890 and 1891, in particular spending time and absorbing the culture of Tahiti. Henry Adams accompanied him on these trips as a travel companion. He visited Hawaii in September of 1890, where he painted scenic spots on Oahu and traveled to the Island of Hawaii to paint an active volcano. He learned several languages (ancient and modern), and was erudite in literature and art; by his cultured personality and reflective conversation, he influenced many other people. Though naturally a questioner, he venerated the traditions of religious art, and preserved his Catholic faith,” according to Wikipedia. Also from Wikipedia, “LaFarge experimented with color problems, especially in the medium of stained glass. He rivaled the beauty of medieval windows and added new resources by inventing opalescent glass and by his original methods of superimposing and welding his materials.” LaFarge received the Cross of the Legion of Honor from the French Government. <br><br> At Saint Paul, William Laurel Harris (1870-1924) painted murals and designed decorative elements, continuing the work of LaFarge. He was born in Brooklyn. As a boy, he was befriended by Thomas Wilmer Dewing and Augustus and Augusta Saint-Gaudens. He studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Academie Julian in Paris. He started working at Saint Paul in the 1880s taking over from LaFarge. He worked the project from 1898 until 1913 when he was fired by the Paulists, possibly resulting from a personal dispute. <br><br> Today, the church is active in working with artists, sponsoring art exhibits at the church, providing networking opportunities, and fostering dialog in the artistic community. <a href="http://openingsny.com/">Openings NY</a>, a project of the Paulist Fathers for artists, has regular exhibits (generally at the church) exploring broad spiritual themes. A recent exhibit explored the elusive mystery of spirit, body, and soul through a variety of visual media, including photography, painting, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture while another featured the work of Iraqi refugees. Frank Sabatté is the director of Openings NY. Frank is an artist and Paulist father and his work is presented on his <a href="http://www.sabatteart.com/">website.</a> Frank kindly provided me with detailed information on the church that I have used in this gallery.
  • High Altar Stained Glass Windows by Mayer & Co. of Munich <br><br> These beautiful stained glass windows above the altar were made by Mayer & Co. of Munich, now known as Franz Meyer of Munich, Inc. The firm is famous for stained glass design and manufacturing. Founded in 1847, the firm was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for providing stained glass to large Roman Catholic churches constructed during that period. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Mayer_%26_Co.">Wikipedia</a> provides a long list of churches that feature Mayer stained glass windows throughout the world. <br><br> The company still exists and the New York Mass Transit Authority is one client. Franz Meyer mosaics can be found at the South Ferry, 86th Street, 42nd Street and 8th Ave., Penn Station, and Bryant Park subway stations just to name a few. For more detail on their work, see the <a href="http://www.mayer-of-munich.com/"> Franz Meyer company website.</a>
  • Saint Paul the Apostle Church
  • Saint Patrick Altar <br><br> John LaFarge designed the Saint Patrick shrine and William Laurel Harris painted the altar. Harris did most of the painting in the church including life size paintings of prophets or saints on side chapel walls. However in the 1950s, 14 of Harris’s Saints were tragically painted over with gray paint during a disastrous cleaning; the reason given was that some paint was peeling. In 1993 the church was repainted with the original color scheme but the lost decorative paintings could not be saved. However, the renovation did preserve many of his most important works including the Saint Patrick and Saint Catherine altars, according to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Laurel_Harris">Wikipedia.</a> <br><br> Today, the church is active in working with artists, sponsoring art exhibits at the church, providing networking opportunities, and fostering dialog in the artistic community. <a href="http://openingsny.com/">Openings NY</a>, a project of the Paulist Fathers for artists, has regular exhibits (generally at the church) exploring broad spiritual themes. A recent exhibit explored the elusive mystery of spirit, body, and soul through a variety of visual media, including photography, painting, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture while another featured the work of Iraqi refugees. Frank Sabatté is the director of Openings NY. Frank is an artist and Paulist father and his work is presented on his <a href="http://www.sabatteart.com/">website.</a> Frank kindly provided me with detailed information on the church that I have used in this gallery.
  • Madonna of Bruges Replica with Saint Patrick Alter in the Background <br><br> See the previous photo for a discussion of the Saint Patrick Altar. <br><br> This is a bronze replica of the Madonna of Bruges sculpture by Michelangelo (1504). The original marble stature is in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges, Belgium. From <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Madonna_of_Bruges">Wikipedia:</a> <br><br> "The Madonna of Bruges is a marble sculpture by Michelangelo of Mary with the infant Jesus. <br><br> Michelangelo's depiction of the Madonna and Child differs significantly from earlier representations of the same subject, which tended to feature a pious Virgin smiling down on an infant held in her arms. Instead, Jesus stands upright, almost unsupported, only loosely restrained by Mary's left hand, and appears to be about to step away from his mother and into the world. Meanwhile, Mary does not cling to her son or even look at him, but gazes down and away, as if she knows already what is to be her son's fate. It is believed the work was originally intended for an altar piece. If this is so, then it would have been displayed facing slightly to the right and looking down. <br><br> Madonna and Child shares certain similarities with Michelangelo's Pietà, which was completed shortly before, mainly, the chiaroscuro pattern and the movement of the drapery. The long, oval face of Mary is also reminiscent of the Pietà. <br><br> The work is also notable in that it was the only sculpture by Michelangelo to leave Italy during his lifetime. It was bought by Giovanni and Alessandro Moscheroni (Mouscron), from a family of wealthy cloth merchants in Bruges, then one of the leading commercial cities in Europe. The sculpture was sold for 4,000 florin. <br><br> The sculpture was removed twice from Belgium after its initial arrival. The first was in 1794, after French Revolutionaries had conquered the Austrian Netherlands; the citizens of Bruges were ordered to ship it and several other valuable works of art to Paris. It was returned after Napoleon's defeat. The second removal was in 1944 with the retreat of German soldiers, who smuggled the sculpture to Germany enveloped in mattresses in a Red Cross lorry. It was found two years later and again returned. It now sits in the Church of Our Lady in Bruges, Belgium. After the attack on Michelangelo's Pietà in 1972 the sculpture was placed behind bulletproof glass, and the public can only view it from 15 feet away." <br><br> A pdf file from <a href="http://www.michelangelosmadonna.com/bruges/history_provenance.pdf">Peter Hastings Falk</a> tells the story of how Saint Paul the Apostle Church acquired a replica of the statue: <br><br> “The replica in the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York was likely cast in 1889, eighteen years before that in Edinburgh. This replica was the gift of Cecilia E. Smith Wentworth [1853-1933], an artist who was born in New York City to a Catholic family, attended the Sacred Heart Convent, but spent the rest of her life as an expatriate portrait painter living in Paris. She was so moved by the original masterpiece that she took up the single-minded cause of having a replica cast and brought to America. In 1889, she recruited James G. Blaine (Secretary of State from 1889 to 1892 under Benjamin Harrison) to champion her plea to the Belgian government to pressure the church to allow a mold to be taken so that she may donate a bronze replica to the newly-erected Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York. Blaine succeeded in fulfilling Wentworth’s wishes, and she contracted the Parisian foundry, Gruet, to produce a cast. She presented her gift to the Church of St. Paul the Apostle in New York in 1890. Father Joseph McSorley, the Paulist Superior General [1924-1929], wrote that “the only other replica is in France” but did not cite its location. It is likely that the second replica was cast by Gruet as part of the commission agreement and retained in Paris, but its whereabouts remains unknown. Ultimately, owing to two world wars, this second Gruet cast may well have been a victim of the common practice of melting down sculptures for military purposes. Initially, St. Paul’s parishioners expressed their discomfort with the depiction of a naked Christ Child and suggested placing a diaper about His waist. However, by the turn of the century the sculpture was universally admired. In the 1920s, Father McSorley wrote of the sculpture: “In its suggestion of divine untroubled strength, it is a fit embellishment for the fortress-like Church in which it stands” — a sentiment passed on years later in the writing of Superior General Father Henry Ignatius Stark [1940- 1946]. Today, the hands, feet, and knees of both Christ and Mary in this replica are heavily worn and shiny owing to 120 years of devotional kissing and rubbing.”
  • Saint Paul the Apostle Statue
  • High Altar Stained Glass Windows by Mayer & Co. of Munich <br><br> These beautiful stained glass windows above the altar were made by Mayer & Co. of Munich, now known as Franz Meyer of Munich, Inc. The firm is famous for stained glass design and manufacturing. Founded in 1847, the firm was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for providing stained glass to large Roman Catholic churches constructed during that period. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Mayer_%26_Co.">Wikipedia</a> provides a long list of churches that feature Mayer stained glass windows throughout the world. <br><br> The company still exists and the New York Mass Transit Authority is one client. Franz Meyer mosaics can be found at the South Ferry, 86th Street, 42nd Street and 8th Ave., Penn Station, and Bryant Park subway stations just to name a few. For more detail on their work, see the <a href="http://www.mayer-of-munich.com/"> Franz Meyer company website.</a>
  • High Altar Stained Glass Windows by Mayer & Co. of Munich <br><br> These beautiful stained glass windows above the altar were made by Mayer & Co. of Munich, now known as Franz Meyer of Munich, Inc. The firm is famous for stained glass design and manufacturing. Founded in 1847, the firm was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries for providing stained glass to large Roman Catholic churches constructed during that period. <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Franz_Mayer_%26_Co.">Wikipedia</a> provides a long list of churches that feature Mayer stained glass windows throughout the world. <br><br> The company still exists and the New York Mass Transit Authority is one client. Franz Meyer mosaics can be found at the South Ferry, 86th Street, 42nd Street and 8th Ave., Penn Station, and Bryant Park subway stations just to name a few. For more detail on their work, see the <a href="http://www.mayer-of-munich.com/"> Franz Meyer company website.</a>
  • The Angel of the Resurrection by Lumen Martin Winter, Saint Paul the Apostle Church <br><br> According to church tourist information, Lumen Martin Winter (1908-1982) executed The Angel of the Resurrection out of botticino marble in Pietrasanta, Italy. Below is the sarcophagus (not shown in the photo) of Father Isaac Hecker (1819-1888), founder of the Missionary Society of Saint Paul the Apostle (The Paulist Fathers), and first pastor of Saint Paul the Apostle. The statue shows the Angel of Resurrection enfolding Father Hecker and Saint Paul and standing vigil over the remains, which were transferred there in 1959. <br><br> Winter was raised in Larned, Kansas near the Sante Fe Trail. Kansas landscapes and the history of the trail would later play an important role in his artwork, according to to the <a href="http://www.kshs.org/kansapedia/lumen-martin-winter/15553">Kansas Historical Society website.</a> Winter became a sculptor, painter, and mosaic artist, but he was most well known for his murals. <br><br> Winter attended the Cleveland School of Art and the National Academy of Design in New York City. Winter settled in 1939 in Santa Fe, working as a cartoonist and designer. He would serve as artist with the U.S. Signal Corps in the army in World War II. <br><br> In 1969 Winter was commissioned to design a mural and the official medallion for the Apollo 13 mission. Steeds of Apollo depicts four racing horses of the mythological Apollo, god of the sun, according to the website. <br><br> Winter completed a series of eight scenes depicting history, agriculture, industry, and education in the second floor rotunda of the Kansas State Capitol. Winter's murals are also displayed at the U.S. Air Force Academy Chapels in Colorado Springs, National Wildlife Federation in Washington, D.C., and the AFL-CIO headquarters.
  • Stained Glass Window Above the Altar by John LaFarge LaFarge also did the windows that line the upper part of the church and the lancet windows in the choir loft. <br><br> John LaFarge (1835-1910) was an American painter, muralist, and stained glass window maker. He was born in New York City. Initially intending to study law, he changed his mind after visiting Paris in 1856. He studied with Thomas Couture. Another of Couture’s students was Edouard Manet. See Couture’s frescoes of the Virgin Mary in my gallery on Saint-Eustache. According to to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_LaFarge">Wikipedia, </a> LaFarge's earliest drawings and landscapes in Newport, Rhode Island (where he studied with painter William Morris Hunt) show originality, especially in the handling of color values. <br><br> His first work in mural painting was in the Trinity Church in Boston in 1873. Aside from Saint Paul the Apostle, his other church works include the large altarpiece at the Church of the Ascension and Saint Paul’s Chapel at Columbia University. He created four great lunettes (a half-moon shaped space) representing the history of law at the Minnesota State Capital and a similar series based on the theme of Justice for the State Supreme Court building in Baltimore, Maryland. <br><br> He was a pioneer in the study of Japanese art. “LaFarge made extensive travels in Asia and the South Pacific, which inspired his painting. He visited Japan in 1886, and the South Seas in 1890 and 1891, in particular spending time and absorbing the culture of Tahiti. Henry Adams accompanied him on these trips as a travel companion. He visited Hawaii in September of 1890, where he painted scenic spots on Oahu and traveled to the Island of Hawaii to paint an active volcano. He learned several languages (ancient and modern), and was erudite in literature and art; by his cultured personality and reflective conversation, he influenced many other people. Though naturally a questioner, he venerated the traditions of religious art, and preserved his Catholic faith,” according to Wikipedia. Also from Wikipedia, “LaFarge experimented with color problems, especially in the medium of stained glass. He rivaled the beauty of medieval windows and added new resources by inventing opalescent glass and by his original methods of superimposing and welding his materials.” LaFarge received the Cross of the Legion of Honor from the French Government.
  • Saint Catherine Altar with Resurrection Painting by Earl Neiman <br><br> The altar is dedicated to Saint Catherine of Genoa. The plaster sculptures are Italian. The Resurrection painting is by Earl Neiman, brother of LeRoy Neiman, the popular sports and entertainment painter. At the bottom is a stature of Jesus by Alan Dietrich (Resurrection) made from Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur fossil bone fragments found in Kansas, gold, and silver pieces. <br><br> Today, the church is active in working with artists, sponsoring art exhibits at the church, providing networking opportunities, and fostering dialog in the artistic community. <a href="http://openingsny.com/">Openings NY</a>, a project of the Paulist Fathers for artists, has regular exhibits (generally at the church) exploring broad spiritual themes. A recent exhibit explored the elusive mystery of spirit, body, and soul through a variety of visual media, including photography, painting, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture while another featured the work of Iraqi refugees. Frank Sabatté is the director of Openings NY. Frank is an artist and Paulist father and his work is presented on his <a href="http://www.sabatteart.com/">website.</a> Frank kindly provided me with detailed information on the church that I have used in this gallery.
  • Resurrection Painting by Earl Neiman<br /> <br /> See information provided in the previous photo.
  • Sacred Heart Altar <br><br> William Laurel Harris painted the Sacred Heart Altar. The marble is from an Italian firm and the statue was carved in Munich, possibly by Mayer & Co. of Munich. The altar is dedicated to those that died in World War II and September 11, 2001. <br><br> The sides of the shrines had life size paintings of prophets or saints by Harris. However in the 1950s, 14 were tragically painted over with gray paint; the reason given was that some were peeling. In 1993 the church was repainted with the original color scheme but the lost decorative paintings could not be saved. However, the renovation did preserve many of Harris's most important works including Saint Patrick’s and Saint Catherine’s altars, according to Wikipedia. <br><br> At Saint Paul, William Laurel Harris (1870-1924) painted murals and designed decorative elements, continuing the work of LaFarge. He was born in Brooklyn. As a boy, he was befriended by Thomas Wilmer Dewing and Augustus and Augusta Saint-Gaudens. He studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Academie Julian in Paris. He started working at Saint Paul in the 1880s taking over from LaFarge. He worked the project from 1898 until 1913 when he was fired by the Paulists, possibly resulting from a personal dispute. <br><br> Today, the church is active in working with artists, sponsoring art exhibits at the church, providing networking opportunities, and fostering dialog in the artistic community. <a href="http://openingsny.com/">Openings NY</a>, a project of the Paulist Fathers for artists, has regular exhibits (generally at the church) exploring broad spiritual themes. A recent exhibit explored the elusive mystery of spirit, body, and soul through a variety of visual media, including photography, painting, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture while another featured the work of Iraqi refugees. Frank Sabatté is the director of Openings NY. Frank is an artist and Paulist father and his work is presented on his <a href="http://www.sabatteart.com/">website.</a> Frank kindly provided me with detailed information on the church that I have used in this gallery.
  • Saint Agnes Altar <br><br> Mural work is by William Laurel Harris. <br><br> At Saint Paul, William Laurel Harris (1870-1924) painted murals and designed decorative elements, continuing the work of LaFarge. He was born in Brooklyn. As a boy, he was befriended by Thomas Wilmer Dewing and Augustus and Augusta Saint-Gaudens. He studied at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and the Academie Julian in Paris. He started working at Saint Paul in the 1880s taking over from LaFarge. He worked the project from 1898 until 1913 when he was fired by the Paulists, possibly resulting from a personal dispute.
  • Saint Joseph Altar <br><br> Stanford White designed the Saint Joseph altar. The statue was modeled after Chandler Berrian, the donor, who was a son of one of the early rectors of Trinity Episcopal church and a convert to Catholicism. <br><br> Today, the church is active in working with artists, sponsoring art exhibits at the church, providing networking opportunities, and fostering dialog in the artistic community. <a href="http://openingsny.com/">Openings NY</a>, a project of the Paulist Fathers for artists, has regular exhibits (generally at the church) exploring broad spiritual themes. A recent exhibit explored the elusive mystery of spirit, body, and soul through a variety of visual media, including photography, painting, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture while another featured the work of Iraqi refugees. Frank Sabatté is the director of Openings NY. Frank is an artist and Paulist father and his work is presented on his <a href="http://www.sabatteart.com/">website.</a> Frank kindly provided me with detailed information on the church that I have used in this gallery.
  • Statue of Mary by Bela Pratt <br><br> The statue of Mary in the Annunciation shrine is by Bela Pratt (1867-1917). At age 16, Pratt began studying at Yale University School of Fine Arts. After graduating from Yale, Pratt enrolled at the Art Students League of New York where he took classes from Augustus Saint-Gaudens (1848-1891) who became his mentor. Saint-Gaudens was the Irish-born American sculptor of the Beaux-Arts generation who, according to Wikipedia, most embodied the ideals of the "American Renaissance". After working in Saint-Gaudens’ private studio, Pratt traveled to Paris. In 1893, he began a 25-year career as a teacher of modeling at the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. During this time he sculpted a series of busts of Boston’s intellectual community. Episcopal priest Phillips Brooks (1899, Brooks House, Harvard University), Colonel Henry Lee (1902, Memorial Hall, Harvard University), and Boston Symphony Orchestra founder Henry Lee Higginson (1909, Symphony Hall, Boston). He became an associate of the National Academy in 1900. <br><br> Pratt continued Saint-Gaudens' influence in coin design after 1907. His gold Indian Head half ($5) and quarter ($2.50) eagles are known as the "Pratt coins" and feature an unusual intaglio Indian head, the U.S. mint's only recessed design in circulation. See <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bela_Pratt">Wikipedia.</a> for more detail. <br><br> According to Father Frank Sabatté, there is a mistaken notion that there are works by August Saint-Gaudens in the church. There are no works of his in the church, but there are a number of works by his students and studio assistants who went on to become noted sculptors in their own right. These include: Bela Pratt, Frederick MacMonnies, Philip Martiny and Charles Keck. Stanford White did some of the principal interior architecture and often collaborated with Saint Gaudens, which would have led to the contact with the above sculptors. <br><br> Today, the church is active in working with artists, sponsoring art exhibits at the church, providing networking opportunities, and fostering dialog in the artistic community. <a href="http://openingsny.com/">Openings NY</a>, a project of the Paulist Fathers for artists, has regular exhibits (generally at the church) exploring broad spiritual themes. A recent exhibit explored the elusive mystery of spirit, body, and soul through a variety of visual media, including photography, painting, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture while another featured the work of Iraqi refugees. Frank Sabatté is the director of Openings NY. Frank is an artist and Paulist father and his work is presented on his <a href="http://www.sabatteart.com/">website.</a> Frank kindly provided me with detailed information on the church that I have used in this gallery.
  • The Martyrdom of Saint Paul by Robert Lewis Reid <br><br> Robert Lewis Reid (1862-1929) painted the Martyrdom of Saint Paul. He was an American Impressionist painter and muralist. He attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. In 1884 he moved to New York City studying at the Art Students League and in 1885 went to Paris to study at the the Académie Julian under Gustave Boulanger and Jules Joseph Lefebvre. <br><br> He returned to New York in 1889 and worked as a portraitist and became an instructor at the Art Students League and Cooper Union. Much of his work centered on the depiction of young women set among flowers. His work tended to be very decorative, and he became known for mural decoration and designs for stained glass according to <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Robert_Reid_%28painter%29 ">Wikipedia.</a>. <br><br> He has work in the Congressional Library, Washington, D.C., the Appellate Court House, New York, and the State House, Boston, where his three large panels, “James Otis Delivering his Speech against the Writs of Assistance,” “Paul Revere's Ride” and the “Boston Tea Party” reside. He executed a panel for the American Pavilion at the Paris Exhibition, 1900, and in 1906 he completed a series of ten stained glass windows for the Unitarian Memorial Church at Fairhaven, Mass. <br><br> Today, the church is active in working with artists, sponsoring art exhibits at the church, providing networking opportunities, and fostering dialog in the artistic community. <a href="http://openingsny.com/">Openings NY</a>, a project of the Paulist Fathers for artists, has regular exhibits (generally at the church) exploring broad spiritual themes. A recent exhibit explored the elusive mystery of spirit, body, and soul through a variety of visual media, including photography, painting, drawing, mixed media, and sculpture while another featured the work of Iraqi refugees. Frank Sabatté is the director of Openings NY. Frank is an artist and Paulist father and his work is presented on his <a href="http://www.sabatteart.com/">website.</a> Frank kindly provided me with detailed information on the church that I have used in this gallery.
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