Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1951-09-30
4 IT
French Religious
Art Exhibition
Opens at G. u.
By Florence S. Berrymon

CatnOllC university. III Is IN
stalled in the art department,
Salve Regina building, and the
Library of the School of Engi-
neering and Architecture, and
will be on view through October
IA. 1t is open to the public week
days from 8 to 5, and Sundays
from 2 to S. Sponsored by the
Direction Generate DIES Relations
Culturelles. Paris, and the Gull
tural Division of the French
Embassy, New York, and pre-
sented under auspices of the
Liturgical Arts Society. it is be-
ing circulated by the American
Federation of Arts.
For a thousand years, France
has fostered and created art.
The architecture of the middle
ages reached its highest express
sion in the cathedralS which
surround Paris. French artisans
were supreme in the creation
of stained glass and tapestries,
and the other decorative arts
which adorned the cathedrals.
What they received occasionally
from other countries, they trans
formed into something indis-
putably French.
But this long history of
achievement was interrupted in
the mid-19th century, when art
and architecture ceased to be
associated with the church,
whose adornments deteriorated
to the level of the saccharine
CONNECTIONS of image makers and
picture manufacturers near
st. Sulpice.
A new chapter began after
World War I. The architectural
section of the current exhibition
begins with the work of Auguste
Perret, one of the first architects
to apply modern methods of
construction in solving the prob
lens of modern architecture, in
Guiding ecclesiastical. His NO
ire Dame du Raincy" has a cor
crete framework so light as to
permit extensive areas of glass,
and has led to its being called
1.-The Sainte Chapelle of rein
forced concrete"
Revitalizing Church Art.
Frances renaissance in church
art and architecture is an out
standing esthetic event, with
contributions from contempt
rary artists of international
reputation. Georges Desvallieres
and Maurice Denis, both repre-
sented in the present collection,
were pioneers" in the new
movement to revitalize the art
of the church.
Today Georges Rouault is a
leading participant. In his
youth. he began his career as a
worker in stained glass, which
medium has strongly influenced
his painting and graphic arts,
we'll exemplified in the present
show. His "Miserere" series of
engravings could be translated
with minor changes into stained
glass designs. His Holy Face"
in Aubusson tapestry is pro-
foundry tragic. A devout Cath
Ole, Rouault approaches reli-
gious themes with deep SINGER
ity. @
Sculptors represented in the
exhibition are more traditional
than the painters. Bourdelle's
Jeanne dare" for example,
would be completely at home in
a Gothic cathedral. Her gallant
pose and dedicated expression
will endear this handsome statue
to the most confirmed devotee
Of representational art.
Yet the modern polychromed
wood figure by Philippe Kaep-
pelin of Christ bound and
crowned with thorns, was OBJ
viously created with equal rever-
ence, and its angularity and
elongation give it increased
pathos.
Show Has Wide Variety.
The unusual variety and
heterogeneous character of the
exhibition heighten it's interest.
The Christian theme is the only
unifying agent. like the thread
in a string of pearls. Visitors
will see architects designs,
sculpture and paintings, graphic
arts and enamels.
They will also see stained
glass windows, 6 to 9 feet high.
and a group of tapestries from
the revived factories of Aubus-
son and Gobelins. Dom Rob-
ert is the most traditional. His
"Magnif1cat" tapestry is remi-
niscent of Persian painting as
well as, of Gothic French tap
eStry.
Besides all these, there are
chalices, crosses. monStrances,
.ciboria and patens from the
workshops of leading French
silversmiths. Some OF these OBJ
jects were designed by artists
from Africa and Madagascar,
and are made Of ivory. gilded
copper and silver.
The exhibition was assembled
in conjunction with the celebra-
ton of the 2,00oth anniversary
of the founding of Paris.
X X
The City at Workshop