Spirit

Temple of Pallas by JR Allen (Engraver) and S. Prout (Drawing) 

1931, Lithograph Print, 3 1/2" x 5 3/4"

This print depicts the Temple of Pallas, also known as the Temple of Athena which honors the Greek deity, Athena, goddess of wisdom and truth. While the temple is quite grand, we can see that it is in disrepair, with the columns crumbling and a pile of debris on the left side. The clothes of the figures and the date indicate that this print depicts a later society than the one that created the temple. This is exemplified by the Christian Monk, who we can identify by his robes and his tonsure haircut. 

Christ and the Children by Jo Summonick 

Ink Print, 18" x 15 1/4"

This ink print features a large bearded figure seemingly bending slightly at the waist to fit within the horizontal frame. This figure, of what we assume is Christ, dominates the composition dressed in a bright red rope that draws the eye. The smaller, child-like figures kneel in front of Christ in reverence. The faces of the people are rendered minimally, which keeps them open for interpretation of their identity. 

Resurrection by Peter Lupori

Lithography Print, 18 1/2" x 14" 

This lithograph print features a male figure, we recognize as Jesus, floating in the center with the marks of the crucifix on his hands and feet. The gentle shading around the figure shows a light emitting from the figure, this light could be the act of the resurrection. The artist, Peter Lupori, was a professor of art at St. Catherine during the 1950s and designed brass ornaments as well as charms and pins for the St. Kate's alumnae association. 

The Sacrifice by Corita Kent

1955 (Estimated), Serigraph Print, 22" x 16"

This serigraph is attributed to Corita Kent, also known as Sister Mary Corita Kent. She created screenprints inspired by Pop Culture and American consumerism. This piece features a large figure that takes up most of the composition. There are several figures on the sides of the large figure in what looks like a kneeling position. While there is no definitive narrative, there are several correlations to Christianity. The pose of the figure is standing like the crucifix, and on the right, we can see a bowl full of something that could be represented as the body of Christ. 

Jesus and His Mother by Susan Speuth

1958, Etching, 12 1/4" x 18"

This portrait features the Madonna (Mary) at the center with Christ, as a child, standing in her lap. There are repeating curvilinear lines that delineate in solidity to define the shapes of the figures and their environment. One of these circular shapes is placed behind the infant Jesus's head, which could be part of the background or indicate his halo of Holiness. Speuth employed a light brown wash that can be seen behind the figures and there are darker vertical or horizontal strokes that seem to have been applied with a brush. There is not much information about the artist, but this particular arrangement of Madonna and Child is common throughout Christian art. 

Venus on the Road Again by Neda Miranda Blazevic-Krietzman

1994, Wood and Concrete Sculpture, 29 1/2" x 30 3/4" x 7 1/2

This mixed-media sculpture features the form of a woman enclosed in a wooden superstructure. The statue can be identified as Venus, the Roman Goddess of Love, as it is sculpted nearly identically to the famous Vénus de Milo statue sculpted by Alexandros which is currently housed in the Louvre Museum collections. The Goddess appears to be packed up to be shipped to make an appearance at another museum. This could be representative of the commodification of what was once a religious artifact or could be a direct correlation to the questionable provenance of many Greek and Roman statues. These statues are part of the Greek and Roman culture, and they have been shipped all over the world to museums in foreign countries, divorcing them from their context and spiritual connections. 

Portrait of a King by Marc Chagall

1956, Etching, 9" x 11 1/2"'

Chagall is a famous Russian-French painter, printmaker, and designer. The date and the title of this work mean that we can most likely attribute it to his later works of Bible Illustrations, which are done in a similar style to this piece and are quite different from his early works. There are several other installments of this print, in which it is titled "Aaron and the Menorah (From the Bible). Here we see a man, Aaron, wearing a tablet with Hebrew writing fastened around his neck by a chain. Behind him is a lamp with seven candles, two of which are cut out in the left margin of the composition. While we may attribute this image to Menorah as we know them for celebrating Hanukkah, Menorah is also the Hebrew word for a lamp, and Hanukkah Menorahs have nine candles. 

Marriage by Clara Gardner Mairs 

Etching, 8 1/2" x 5 5/8"

This small etching shows a couple getting married, surrounded by several women in elaborate dresses and hairstyles. We can see the couple kissing, and a holy person beyond them performing the ceremony. On the sides of the print, are figures with wide open mouths who can be presumed to be singing.
The cloaked figure above the ceremony is the Virgin Mary watching over the preceding. Here we see the integral part that spirituality has on our human bonds, as these two commit to each other in a religious ceremony. 

Church in Italy by Adolf Dehn 

Pencil Drawing, 8 3/8" x 11 11/16" 

Adolf Dehn was born in Waterville Minnesota and was well known for his careful consideration of line and shape in his works. This pencil sketch features a church set against a sky with a crescent moon above. Most likely this was intended as a sketch for a painting or an etching as it is much looser and less polished than his finished works are. 
The church can be identified as the Basilica of Saint Frances of Assisi, but it has double round windows which can be seen in the sketch, and the bell tower right next to it. 

Art Department Photographs: Student Exhibition: 1959 (Mary and Christ Child) 

1959, 35 mm Color Slide

This slide features a painting by Sonia Daleki and likely features the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus. This image is attributed to a showing from a St. Catherine University art major annual exhibition. The painting itself is a riot of bright colors contrasted with thick linework that shows off the figures. The background is completely abstracted, but Mary's expression is quite severe as she looks at the viewer.