The Abbey Art Collection
Seek Things Above

Providing a window into the art world of Mount Angel Abbey.

Descriptions compiled by Br. Anthony Kamal, OSB.

Mural size: 75” x 150.5” (detail shown) | Acrylic, gold leaf

The Crucifixion scene, written by Br. Claude Lane, OSB, depicts Jesus hanging on a cross. His blessed mother, Mary, stands nearby, symbolizing the birth of the Church; and John, His beloved disciple, and brother are central figures. Consistent with sacred scripture, the scene is placed outside the walls of Jerusalem. Overhead, the dark blue heavens symbolizing divine wisdom shroud the red tile roofs of the city of Jerusalem, enclosed by the city’s outside walls. Jesus wears a cruciform halo, announcing, “I Am Who I Am.” The Greek inscription on the cross reads ICXC, which informs the viewer that this is Christ the King, which is common in Eastern iconography. Blood and water gushes from his right side, symbols of the water of baptism and blood of the Holy Eucharist. Blood flows from wounds on his feet onto a buried skull visible in a dark cave at the base of the cross. The skull represents the head of the Old Adam, who Christ, the New Adam, has replaced through his death on the cross.

Size: 24″ x 34” | Carved wood, paint

The design by Cimabue (c. 1240 – 1302) was converted to 3D sculpture by the Moroder Sculpture Studies in St. Ulrich-Groden, Northern Italy. This piece includes a special painted pattern background. Cimabue, also known as Cenni di Pepo or Cenni di Pepi, was an Italian painter and designer of mosaics from Florence. Although heavily influenced by Byzantine models, Cimabue is generally regarded as one of the first great Italian painters to break from the Italo-Byzantine style. While medieval art then was scenes and forms that appeared relatively flat and highly stylized, Cimabue’s figures were depicted with more advanced lifelike proportions and shading than other artists of his time.

Size: 20” x 14” | Marble carving

White marble bust of Christ showing part of the wood of the cross on which he hung. The marble has a slight translucency, i.e., subsurface scattering that is comparable to that of human skin. It is this translucency that gives a marble sculpture a visual depth beyond its surface, and evokes a certain realism.

Metal cast, silver plating

The crucifix has evangelist symbols on the four extremes of the cross and a flora halo behind the upper body of Jesus. Large metal cast corpus with silver plating. A beaded halo extended by a van around the upper part of Christ’s body. The cross is covered with strong repeating designs that decorate the top, bottom, and sides.

Size: 11.5” x 7.5″ | Oil on canvas

This painting of the crucifixion by Ugo Tesoriere is based on the crucifix on the staff of St. John Paul II, with the body of Christ leaning forward and the legs bent. The image of Christ is depicted without a beard.

Carved wood

Wood carved Corpus Christi with light polychromatic coloration. The style was influenced by the French heresy of Jansenism observed in the position of Christ with arms raised up rather than outstretched. Jansenism was a French heresy in the 17th and 18th centuries which stated that Christ died only for the elect few (the idea behind the vertical and more narrow position of the arms). Jansenism asserts that God’s role in the infusion of grace cannot be resisted and does not require human assent. It took root mostly in France, Italy, and the low countries. This style corpus reflected this belief at the time.

Oil on canvas

This piece based on Guido Reni’s Crucifixion (c 1617) depicts Mary and John standing at the foot of the cross with Mary Magdalene grasping the wood of the cross. In the background, the sky is turbulent at the 3 o’clock hour. The clothing of Mary and John is voluminous and colorful against a dark, ominous background.

Size: 24″ x 24″ | Glass tile, stone

In this mosaic by Louisa Jenkins, Jesus’ shoulders are wrenched in this depiction of his death on the cross. Number twelve of the fourteen stations of the cross, the coloration is among the most beautiful. Jesus’ face is at peace and the background of the path is flanked with green and other colors of life. The piece demonstrates the peace brought on by self-abandonment and humility as expressed by the second Divine person.

Size: 7.5” x 5.5” | Gouache on paper

In this small piece by Jean Lambert-Rucki, the figure representing Christ on the cross dominates the right side of the painting, with tan line drawings to the left depicting Saints John and Mary. The background is a solid field of black.