The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1912-11-02


pared for Statue of the Blessed Vir-
gin to Form Part of the Pediment
of the Facade.
The work on the exterior of the
Cathedral, Minneapolis, is prac-
tically completed ALE that now re-
mains to be done is to put the finish
ing touches upon the cupola, or lam
tern, which rises above the sane
tuary. When the iron cross, fourteen
and half feet high, which is to sur
mount the cupola is placed in posi-.
tion the first and most important stage
in the construction of the sacred edi
fee will be brought to fitting close,
for, with the exception of the doors
and windows, the exterior of the mas
sive structure will then be finished.
Already the plans and specifications
are we'll under way for the finishing
of the interior in a manner that har-
monies with the exterior grandeur
of the building. The plans for the
ceiling were submitted to prospective
contractors some time ago and last
week the contract was awarded to the
Brioschi Minuti Co., of st. Paul. This
contract calls for an expenditure of
$20,S6S.
According to the plans prepared by
the architect, Mr.. E. l.. Masqueray, of
st. Paul, the ceiling of the Pro-Cathe-
dral will be of ornamental stucco work
suspended from the present construc-
tion by steel furring covered with
metal laths. The figured work will
be in relief and will lend itself ad-
mirably to the blending of colors and
ornamentation at a later date.
Ceiling of the Nave.
The design of the ceiling for the
main nave, which rises to height of
seventy-four feet above the floor,
shows five large ornamental panels
and one smaller one extending from
side to side and one above the gallery,
The ceiling of the sanctuary will be
divided into three panels; that of the
Virgins chapel, situated at the back
of the sanctuary directly behind the
main altar, will be smaller than these,
and there will be single panel in
each of the vaults of the towers. Each
panel consists of an intricately woven
design with delicate tracery which
shows a beautiful and harmonious
blending of details that stand out dis
tinctly when viewed from below.
Design for Interior of the cupola.
The pendentive of the dome will be
richly ornamented with broad shields,
and over the arches there will be large
cornices with ornamental members
and medillions. In the four corners
of the interior of the cupola pilasters
of stucco will rise and from them
four ribs converge upwards and fuse
at the top of the dome, hundred and
thirty-seven feet above the floor, into
an ornamental ring in the center of
the ceiling. Within this ring provis-
ion is made for ventilator and con-
cealed electric bulbs which will throw
light on the ornamental portions in
such a way as to bring out the best
effects.
In the drum of the cupola there are
twelve windows. Each series of three
will be bound together under one
large arch with figures in relief be-
tween them and above the central
window figure encircled by frame
lying below the arch. The contract
awarded to Brioschi Minuti Co. does
not include two statues or figures
which will be placed over the arches
of the sanctuary and of the gallery, re-
spectively. These have not yet been
designed, but they will be in harmony
with the general plan followed in fin
ishing the interior.
The contractors will erect a work
shop on the Pro-Cathedral grounds
and during the winter will do the fur
ring called for by their contract and
also make clay models of the de-
signs submitted by the architect whose
approval will be necessary before the
models are cast in plaster and placed
in position Charles Brioschi, who
will have charge of the modelling
and superintend the preparation of the
casts, is a graduate of the Academy
of Fine Arts, Milan, Italy, and is
recognized as the foremost artist in
his profession in the West.
Statue of the Blessed Virgin in the
Facade.
The first plans made for the Pro-
Cathedral showed a statue of the
Blessed Virgin Mary surmounting the
cupola. AS the work progressed it
was deemed advisable to substitute
for this statue large iron cross as
this would symbolic more appro-
priately the religious character of the
structure itself. However, as the Pro-
Cathedral is under the special protec-
ton of the Blessed Virgin Mary il