The detail shown in this week’s mystery photo is part of the ceiling of the narthex, or the vestibule.  This elaborate  floral motif is also found on the ceiling of the nave of the church, and extends all the way into the sanctuary. Using botanical motif in the decoration of  the church gives honor to God for His creation. In the nave of a church, such decoration is to be reminiscent of Garden of Eden as well as the promise of a new heavens and a new earth in the age to come.

Although Saint Francis de Sales church was completed and dedicated on November 26, 1908, the painting of the church was postponed to the Spring of 1916, and completed in time for the Golden Jubilee in 1917.  Fr.  Holweck met and engaged a German artist, Mr. Fridolin Fuchs, who, on account of the war, was unable to return to his native Germany.  Mr. Fuchs had painted various other churches in Texas and Arkansas in the same time period, but eventually settled in St. Louis.  The painting, including the scaffolding, came to $8,800.00, which was an exceptional outlay for the time. The amount was raised by sending out a committee of 100 young ladies of the Sodality who visited each family once a month for a year to request donations. $5,621.00 was collected in the first six months!

Thanks are due Mr. Mark Abeln of Rome of the West for his photos and for his contribution to the commentary.

Where is this in the Oratory? Next time you’re in the Oratory, look around, behind, and above you and tell us where in the Oratory this piece of decorative and sacred art can be found. Remember to return to this site and enter your answer in the comment section.

Happy Thanksgiving!

Photo: courtesy of Mr. Mark Abeln of Rome of the West.

This fellow in this week’s mystery photo has been located, by no less than eight people!

The photo below shows its location at the top of the column near the entrance of the church.

This figure is a common architectural decorative element called a “grotesque.” Similar to, and often confused with gargoyles (which are waterspouts), grotesques are carvings which often depict comically distorted figures.

We are indebted to Mr. Mark Abeln, not only for the photographs, but also for the following enlightening explanation on this particular figure found in Saint Francis de Sales Oratory. (Mr. Abeln, author of the Rome of the West blog, is also a noted photographer of the book Catholic St. Louis: A Pictorial History Churches.)

“This kind of Gothic decoration is called ‘grotesque,’ a common architectural element found in Romanesque, Gothic, and earlier regional Catholic traditions. Typical grotesque subjects are demons, animals, chimeras, and humans with highly distorted expressions. Grotesques are found in a wide variety, for workmen were given much freedom to produce this decoration.

It’s said that grotesques usually symbolize sin, folly, and evil, in a mocking manner. Grotesques are also secular in nature, showing humorous depictions of rulers, tradesmen, or events in history. Workmen would often carve caricatures of particularly ‘beloved’ supervisors as a backhanded compliment, as is likely the case with these at the Oratory.

The overwhelmingly obvious characteristic of grotesques is that they are comical. Even if they are of frightening subjects like demons, they usually are produced in a humorous manner. The example photo is of one that is rather subdued – the other companion grotesques at the Oratory are more expressive and comical.

In Gothic cathedrals, grotesques would be placed outside of the church, or as in the Oratory, near the entrance. As artwork progresses towards the sanctuary, the art becomes more sacred, in a hierarchical manner.

The comical character of the grotesques reflects the joy of life, the love of Creation, and the deep faith of Catholics. The very same stone carver could produce a great devotional work of art as well as a humorous one, and both would be incorporated into the same church.”

Most likely every visitor to the Saint Francis de Sales Oratory has seen this fellow. If you have, please enter the location in the comment section. You are most welcome to take our Virtual Tour !

Photo courtesy of Mark Abeln of Rome of the West

It is one of many angels adorning the main altar at the Oratory.

This carved image of an angel holding a crown is on the beautiful main altar of the Oratory. It is a part of the reredos.  As the viewer faces the altar, it can be seen on the left side, beneath the larger, full figure of the angel with the rose-colored garment.

The exceptional reredos of the main altar at Saint Francis de Sales Oratory stands 52 feet in height, and is a distinctive features of the Oratory. It is richly decorated with many intricately carved details, including many angelic figures. In such an ornate reredos, this one angel is easy to miss.

Of the four responses we received, two were very good guesses, and two correctly identified the angel in the mystery photo.  All are to be commended for noticing the beauty of the Oratory!