The Washington herald., 1922-09-17
Notable Art Objects Found
Behind Monastery Walls
Affairs and Shrines Are Wonder-Places of Ar.
tistic Imagery.

center of the structure just under
the cupola. 1t is of native white
maIb4e. The view presented is the
same from any s.de. All about il,
against the many wall faces, are
grouped the other altars. SO that
tnIs one IOrms nucleus. THIS
aIIar. and particularly the top OF II.
is reminiscent OF that OF ST. Peters,
where only the Pope orficiates.
Represents Four EvanEeIists.
The canopy above the altar is sup
ported by IUur columns to represent
the four EvanGeIists. writers OF the
gospels; the four lamps hanging
from the canopy are for the Apos-
ties.
The candlestiCk is a copy from
one in Rome. 1t is a twisted style,
Of several kinds of material. and
has mosaic work running up II.
The Crucifix Is a copy of the true
Byzantine crucihX in Assist. Italy,
the home OF st. Francis. founder of
tho order. The vases were made in
Italy and the upper part of them is
like lace. The wreath of leaves on
them is hollow.
The fine groups of sta-ned-glass
windows in the northern and south
ern sides of the church were done
IN Munich.
Most Of the shrines in this build
ing are reproductions of those in
the Holy Land. The. bas reliefs ale
reproductions of early originals. or
themselves ater originals.
The Chapel of ST. Joseph rightly
ella ms con .iderable attention from
the standpolnts Of both religion and
art The three scenes represented
are the Espousal OF Joseph and
Mary. the Death of St. Joseph and
the Flight of the Holy Family iTto
Egypt. We have already noted that
the death scene is by Flenker and
the Flight into Egypt is a copy
from Durer.
Come From Unknown.
Above the a tar is a statue of the
saint holding the Divine Infant.
The two scenes to the side of this
are bas reliefs. The statue OF st.
Joseph was sent without any identi-
fyinE marks to the Monastery and
they never have found out who gave
it. Perhaps there is real Romance
behind il. 1t may have been given
as the fulfillment Of a VOW for an
swered prayer.
The altar dedicated to the Trans
fguration Of Christ is called the
Altar Of ThabOr The highest altar
in the church. it is the one reserved
for the Sacrament of the Lords
supper. or Blessed Sacrament. Two
stairs lead up to it. one on either
side. but these are open to the peo-
~ af hAlp Tho
fine panel here is copy from Gus
tav Dore's TRANSPORTATION" II is
a fine example of the French ar
lists religious conceptions. The
Lord is in the center and Elias at
His feet. On the other side is
Moses with the Tables of the Law.
Below this Chapel OF the Trans
hguration is a reproduction Of the
rock -hewn tomb where the body Of
Jesus lay and from which He rose
on the third day. The inner room
was the burial chamber and the
outer one was called the mourners'
chamber, but here il Is called the
Chapel of the Angels. Just outside
is the slab representing where the
body of our Lord was laid just be-
fore placing II n the tomb. This is
maze up Oh TWO COlblS VI HldTblc
The use of the bronze cross here
and at other shrines signifies that
the same indulgences have been an
nexed to these shrines by the Holy
See as are gained at the original
shrines. .
The Holy Sepulchre within is a
fac-simile reproduction Of the origi-
nal in Jerusalem. The two beauti-
full candelabra which guard the en-
trance were given to the church by
a large Catholic publishing house in
New York City. The entrance is
rather deliberately sculntured.
In the inner chamber are memo
rial lamps hanging from the ceiling
and also a copy Of Raphaers Res
which is a facsimile of
the silver panel given to the Holy
Serulchre in Jerusalem by Cardinal
A resplendent throne Of Carrara
marble richly set with mosaic work
stands to the right OF the great
Center Altar. This was the gift OF
famous Roman architects and is oc-
cupied by the presiding prelate at
Pontifical services. This is prob
ably the most ma agnifcent article in
the church. but the very handsome
work on the altar cloths might COM
pete with It.
As the altar Of the founder OF the
order. or order Of Friars
the Monastery belongs. the altar OF