Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-06-01
SCULPTRESS MAKES
STATUE OF VIRGIN
Work of Mrs. Totten Will Be
Placed in Church of I'M
macuIate Conception.
BY GRETCHEN s. SMITH.

washington Is to have its own
Madonna. Since the beginning Of
Christianity no single subject has been
treated 30 prolifically and from so many
different viewpoints by artists all over
the world as that of the blessed Virgin
Mary. Sometimes the blessed mother
has been shown with the infant Jesus
ut other times as a solitary figure. But
as many different aspects and forms
have arisen as there have been varieties
Of genius itself.
And now a Washington artist, Vicken
Ron Post (Mrs. George Oakley Totten)
has sculptured, with infinite finesse and
Glelicacy, her conception of the divine
mother, which will later be placed in
D reproduction of the famous grotto
Of LourdeS, France, in the Church of
che Immaculate Conception, at Eighth
and N streets.
Won Over Other Artists.
A great number of designs were sub
anitted by artists from leading Eastern
cities, but Mrs Totten's conception was
considered the finest and she was
awarded the commission to sculptor
the Madonna of Washington" which
Is to be placed in the Church Of the
Immaculate Conception, the gift of Miss
Anna M. Hagan of 1901 Connecticut
avenue, who is cooperating with the
pastor Of the church, Rev. Francis J.
Hurney, in the project.
Miss Hagan says that her gift is an
Offering of thanksgiving for favors re-
ceived in the past in answer to prayers.
Success has crowned Miss Hagan's life
since the days when as a young girl
she started in an humble position in
New York's business world until,
through hard work and perseverance,
she was able to retire from business a
few years ago, still a young woman.
Since that time Miss Hagan has busted
herself In helping others.
It was after a visit to Lourdes last
gear that Miss Hagan decided to place
Q reproduction Of the shrine IN Wash
angton.
The Grotto, which Is to be placed In
che church, also has been designed by
Mrs. Totten, and the work Of conStruc-
ton will be under her supervision.
The statue of the Virgin was made
By Mrs. Totten, she explains, after she
had given close study to the story OF
the apparition at Lourdes as related
by the little French girl, Bernadette
soubiros. many years ago. in 1858 to
be exact.
Child's Story.
As the story goes, the child told her
parents she had seen . beautiful lady
Ia o Rrotto ut the rocks Of Massabielle,
O part Of the town Of Lourdes. A few
days afterward, 1t Is related, q spring
appeared at the same grotto. The child
said 1t was the Virgin Mary who had
appeared to her, and shortly after this
people from q distance began to visit
the grotto at Lourdes, and many mirac-
ulouS cures were reported from among
cha T1iICriuna At the nreSeY1t dav IL IS
said that fully 500, 900 persons visit the
shrine annually to pray and lave them
selves In the water from the spring. A
medical board at the shrine has certi-
ned to thousands Of the cures which
have been claimed by pilgrims after
their visit 10 the Grotto.
Kxhlbition Set for June ..
The drotto, which viii be repro
Nuced here Ia the Immaculate Con-
6eption Church. win carry out in full
Crotto ia france. The first public
viewing Of the Madonna Of Washing
eon," VIII Be held Monday afternoon,
June 2, from { to 8 o'clock, ct the
home Of tbs artist, 2633 Sixteenth
street. Residents. Of Washington are
invited to attend the exhibition Of the
Madonna" which Mrs. Totem claims
d the elimination Of . desire to re-
With her many years. Despite the fact
that 80 many reproductions Of the
Blessed Virgin have been made In the
past, that 1t would lead to the be-
Def that originality Of design Is almost
impossible, Mrs. Totten has given q
different conception Of the Madonna
than before seen.