Reproduction of notable artifacts aimed to perfect crafting techniques and deepen understanding of design is a well-established and commendable practice among artists and workshops alike. Granda Liturgical Arts has also engaged this approach, and its collection includes se…
A Tabernacle Inspired by a Medieval Masterpiece
Reproduction of notable artifacts aimed to perfect crafting techniques and deepen understanding of design is a well-established and commendable practice among artists and workshops alike. Granda Liturgical Arts has also engaged this approach, and its collection includes se…
Candelabra Magna
As a follow-up to our recent piece on the canopying of the altar, it seems like it might be a good time to consider some other interesting furnishings of the antique sanctuary. Whereas our previous piece focused on various forms of altar canopies, and especially the ciboriu…
Ancient Incomprehensible Vernaculars
There are a few well known cases of vernacular language inscriptions within churches. The Saxon Church in Breamore, Hampshire, is noted for a prominent Anglo-Saxon inscription over the archway . Dated around A.D. 1000, it translates "Here the covenant is manifested to …
On Drawing Stars, Ideas of Preciousness and Russian Lacquered Boxes
I ignored the night sky for most of my life. I could make excuses for this - I have terrible night vision due to misshapen corneas, and until recently I lived in Chicago, surrounded by photopollution and buildings obstructing the view - but the real reason is that I simply…
The Altar and Its Canopy: The Ciborium Magnum or Baldachin
What is the central focal point of a church? What is its heart and centre? Some are likely expecting to hear "the tabernacle," and no doubt that is what many might instinctively jump to given its particular importance in popular piety and private devotion. In fac…
The Art of the Procession: The Ombrellino
Recently I had an interesting conversation with a new pastor. He said: "I have never actually seen in real life an ombrellino, except in photos. Where can I buy one for my parish?"
My answer was short and quick: "You will have to visit Fatima. And every s…
17th Century Chasuble of Cardinal Odoardo Farnese (1573-1626)
Cardinal Odoardo Farnese (1573-1626) was a noted patron of the arts and son of the Duke of Parma who commissioned a number of works of art from Bolognese artist, Annibale Carracci. One the works he commissioned is an astounding chasuble (now housed in the collection of the …
The Importance of Variety and Distinctiveness in Vestment Design - Part 2: The Baroque
In part one we looked at gothic revival vestments and their medieval forebears and discussed some of the reasons why the current approach to much gothic revival work may not have the same positive impact that some other styles seem to. Arguably this is because of a contem…
The Catholic Art Guild: An Introduction
I have been meaning since the founding of this site to mention the Catholic Art Guild which is based out the St. John Cantius parish in Chicago -- home of the Canons Regular of St. John Cantius, which will need no introduction to many of you.
The Catholic Art Guild describ…
Art Nouveau Vestments from Stift Klosterneuberg
We recently introduced the category of 'Other Modern' here at LAJ and gave a general overview of what is meant by it. One of the items we touched on in brief was an example of a Jugenstil cope and we wished to share more with our readers about this remarkable set o…
Beyond Beauty, Beyond Function: How Granda Brought About Twin Pugin-Inspired Chalices
Church plate in its most winning iterations has always been marked by an effective melding of formal requirements of the liturgy with sophisticated craftsmanship; sensitivity to the artistic manner of the time with an authentic religious fervor. Best chalices, patens, and …
A Missal Fragment
This is a French printing of Vital de Four’s Speculum Moralae , printed in Lyon in 1513. It is a deeply frustrating book on one level, as it has been rebound at some point in the middle of the twentieth century in a plain, panelled Calf binding. Of course until relatively re…
The Art of the Communion Verse (Marriage Feast in Cana Sunday)
Sometimes overlooked, something ought to be said of the Communion verse -- a subject of the highest artistic merit which ought to be talked about everywhere, especially in liturgical catechesis in the seminary as well as from the pulpit on the parish level.
Communion verse…
Liturgical English
As noted when LAJ was founded, while the visual arts are of primary focus of course, we also wish to consider other elements which inform the beauty and sacrality of the sacred liturgy. Most obviously that includes sacred music, but it also includes liturgical prose. Today…
The Value of Vestural Traditions: A Call For Ecclesiastical Self-Confidence
Let's put out into the deep for a moment to speak about the 'dreaded' and 'taboo' topic of traditional vestural elements such as tufted fascia, buckled clerical shoes, the mantelletta as used traditionally by prelates outside their area of ordinary juri…
An Introduction to 'The Other Modern' (on LAJ)
Something which has not yet made its appearance here on LAJ is "the Other Modern." What is that you might ask? The Other Modern is a term which is applied to modern forms of art and architecture which, while contemporary on the one hand, are derived from the class…
The Importance of Variety and Distinctiveness in Vestment Design. Part 1: Gothic Revival
Why is it that gothic revival vestments are seldom features of artistic interest in the same way other period styles might be? This observation is based, admittedly, upon the anecdotal evidence of what has been featured, ‘liked,’ shared and commented upon over the years. Ev…
A Courtly French Prayer Book
The last book I shared with you was a French Breviary, an office book for a priest, the second book I would like to share with you is also a French volume, but is something quite different, a devotional book intended for use by the laity. This diminutive volume is only fou…
Excellence in Gothic Revival Sculpture: St. Barnabas in London and the Cowley Church of Boston
In followup to our recent piece on the subject of good (versus poor) statuary in churches, one of our readers -- an accomplished liturgical artist in his own right, Davis d'Ambly -- sent LAJ some further photos of some of the beautiful work of the English gothic reviva…
Liturgical History and Art As Seen in a 1770 Mozarabic Missal
Some of you might find the following edition of the Mozarabic Missal rather interesting, both for reason of its beauty and also for reason of the interesting story the art within tells. It was published in 1770, not in Rome or Spain as one might expect, but rather in colon…
