Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1912-03-31
MOTHER IN SORROW
Virgin Mary Alone With the
Body of Jesus.
MOURNING FOR HIS DEATH
Product Of Sculptor's Art to Be Un-
yelled in St. Patrick's Church
Baptistry.
MOURNING FOR HIS DEATH

Depicting the sorrowing mother, the
Virgin Mary, kneeling upon one knee
with the limp body Of Christ resting
in her lap. Pieta, is to be unveiled
Good Friday in the remodeled bapttstry
Of st. Patrick's Catholic Church. The
side walls have been decorated with the
figures of the witnesses Of the mothers
lamentations-John. the beloved dis
ciple: Joseph of Arimathea and Nico-
demus. and the women who had come
up into Jerusalem with Christ
Sculptor Edward Berge Of Baltimore,
following out the instructions Of Mgr
Russell, rector Of ST Patrick's parish,
has placed the sorrow1ng mother in a
position regarded as dignified. reverent
and graceful AS the body of the Re-
deemer rests on the ground, she is
shown as not supporting too heavy
burden. The throw Of the limp arm
Of the lifeless body over the upright
knee of the Virgin has been declared
by artists to be a master stroke. 1t
gives easy support to the figure of
Christ; it places His head against the
bosom which nurtured the Babe Of
Bethlehem. and stretches the lifeless
straight, heavy folds of the mother
Mary's simple robe, which forms back
ground for what is and must be- 1t is
declared, the principal figure.
Sculptor's Ideal Realized.
Moreover, 1t is claimed, the whole COM
position Is given that pyramidial form
which sculptors are always striving after.
There is no heaviness or strain Of mis-
placed weight declared Mgr. Russell
yesterday afternoon. as he discussed the
work so soon to be unveiled. "All is in
perfect poise and balance" he added,
land the sculptor, with true feeling, has
made the blessed virgin look with an
expression the deeper and more pathetic
for its self-restraint-not at any bystand
er, but at the face of Him whose death
she mourns. She is alone with her sor-
row."
The group. as tinted. harmonizes per-
fectly, it Is stated, with the murals
which have been painted by Miss Gabrielle
Clements of Baltimore. The time of day
is about 40 o'clock and in the shading
Of the clouds and other effects Mgr.
Russell believes Miss Clements has finished
her work with great credit.
Immediately to the rear OF the F1eta
is shown the cross OF Calvary and the
salem in the distance. The figure Of John
is to the right, while that OF Joseph Is
to the left
Mgr Russell is now arranging for the
unVeillng, winch Will De nelO fT10ay a1ter
the mass Of presanctifled, and it is point
ed out that the scene when thrown open
to the gaze Of the worshipers will pre-
sent one of especial beauty. He believes
that those who gaze upon 1t for the first
time will declare that the months OF labor
spent in the construction Of this chapel,
or shrine, to have been fully worth while.
and that the sight Is one to delight the
eye and stimulate devotion.
Requires Months Of Thought.
The completion Of the work is source
Of great satisfaction to Mgr. Russell,
who labored for months to impress
upon the minds Of scuIptors and artists
just the effects he wanted brought out
He discussed different pietas Tin the Latin
meaning the Sorrowing MOther) with vari-
Gus sculptors. Particular attention was
given to the pieta by the celebrated
Michaelangelo, but in all the groups
Mgr. Russell was of the opinion that too
much weight was thrown on the Virgin.
and the figure of Christ resting against
her appraised knee as depicted in the
pieta selected was chosen after much de-
liberation. and Sculptor Berge started on
the effort to complete the work for the
baptistry.