The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1914-05-30
The Church Interior.

an architectural beauty spot and its
planning should always receive most
careful attention.
There is no reason why any church
should be unattractive in it's appear
ance as the possibilities for beautify-
ing the interior are unlimited. Yet
there are nevertheless a great many
opportunities neglected even in the
larger churches where the matter of
money is not necessarily hindering
obstacle.
The entire program for identifying
the church inside may be summed up
in the one word harmony" Let that
word be kept in mind when each addi-
tional furnishing is considered and the
problem will solve itself. The charm
of the old cathedrals of Europe is due
not so much to their grandeur as to
the harmonious distribution of all the
decorations, each of which is correctly
designed with significance properly
in accord with the whole.
But every church, due to it's location,
its people and it's peculiar environ
ments, has it's own particular condi-
ant question in a majority of cases
is how to make the proper start. I'm
questionably the beginning should be
with the Altar. This, the most i'm
portant furnishing of the church, when
properly designed, correctly construct
ed, and artistically finished, can al
ways be safely depended upon as a
fitting nucleus around which the
other furnishings can be arranged in
harmony and proportion.
The greatest essential, then, is the
selection of the right altar. If this
be beautiful, whether rich or simple
of design, and in every way adapted
to the architecture, the other furnish
ings will naturally follow in harmony.
It may take years in many instances,
but ultimately the completed church
interior will stand as lasting tribute
to the good Judgment of those respon-
sible for the first correct start, a
source of pleasure to all for ages to
come.
For artistic and durable altar con-
struction, there is one concern that
bears a most enviable reputation. Da-
prato Statuary Company, "Pontifical
Institute of Christian Art" of Chicago
and New York, whose studios are in
Chicago and Pietrasanta, Italy, have
executed some of the finest designs to
be seen in this country today. Notable
among their achievements are the
Denver Cathedral, recently completed
and the Nashville Cathedral just being
finished. Those who have viewed the
marble work in the Immaculate Con-
ception Cathedral, Denver, which in
cludes among other things, an i'm
mense main altar, two side affairs, two
shrines, pulpit, bishops throne, rail-
ing, etc., all Of marble, have pro-
nounced it wonderful for quality of
execution. Not only did the Daprato
Statuary Company furnish all the fine
marble work in this Cathedral, to them
also was intrusted the furnishing of
the fifty large stained glass windows
which were specially imported from
Munich, from the studios Of F. K. Zet-
tier and are In themselves considered
among the show pieces Of Denver.
The new Nashville Cathedral, pro-
crossing steadily towards completion,
is being furnished entirely inside by
the Daprato Statuary Company Stu
dos. The Affairs, Railing, Pulpit, the
tall columns, all the ornamental and
figured relief work in the ceiling and
walls, are being furnished by this one
company. To them has been given
entire charge and all the responsibility
for making the interior as beautiful as
possible It is safe to say that when
the Cathedral is completed, Nashville
will have one Of the finest church edi-
fees in the country The beautiful re-
liefs are being decorated under the
personal supervision Of renowned ar
fist who is also planning mural decora-
lions of wondrous magnitude. The
richness of this building has already
excited considerable comment and the