Monday, December 31, 2007

The Plot Thickens

St. Mary's, in Edgerton, is looking more like an undiscovered treasure every day.
Kevin Hammer has discovered that two murals and a triptych altarpiece, there, were painted, in 1945, by John de Rosen, one of the 20th century's greatest painters of religious art. According to my source, the triptych is painted on a gilt background.
John de Rosen painted some of the murals in the cathedral, as well as at the cathedral in St. Louis. Possibly his most well-known work is the apse mosaic at the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception, in Washington. There'll be more on him later in the week.
Regular commenter "Holler" ( There's a story behind that moniker, but it's classified. ) confirms that St. Mary's is "spectacular". I have absolute confidence in his ability to spot a good church, though we might disagree on the level of some of the bad ones. He also reminded me of another story from my source. Apparently, the woodwork in the church was made from lumber harvested on land belonging to the parishioners. I've been told each family signed a piece of it.
This one must be photographed, come hell or high water.

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