The Italian artist Fabrizio Diomedi is perhaps best known amongst our readership for his decorative work at the Benedictine Monastery of Norcia, the birthplace of St. Benedict, but of course he has pursued many other commissions as well. An aspect of his work that I perso…
The Tradition of Decorative Textiles in the Contemporary Work of Fabrizio Diomedi
The Italian artist Fabrizio Diomedi is perhaps best known amongst our readership for his decorative work at the Benedictine Monastery of Norcia, the birthplace of St. Benedict, but of course he has pursued many other commissions as well. An aspect of his work that I perso…
The Evolution of Hagia Sophia: The Exterior
Today marks a melancholic day within Christendom. Why is because today, in the year 1453, was the fateful day when Constantinople would ultimately fall to the Ottoman empire, and with it came crashing down the historical Eastern Roman empire, thus effectively marking the e…
Before and After: St. Andrew's Catholic Church, Myrtle Beach, South Carolina
In another instalment in our "before and after" series, today we have feature a project coming from the firm of Cram & Ferguson Architects , based out of Concord, Massachusetts. This particular firm is particularly (though not exclusively) connected to the goth…
Teresian Vestments?
Before we leave the month of May, a month so traditionally associated with Mary and the flowers of springtime, let's take a look at one more floriated set of vestments. This particular set was made in the Venetian region of Friuli sometime in the eighteenth century and…
Italian and Gothic: Two Stunning Designs in Contemporary Vestment Work
The Italy-based atelier Sacra Domus Aurea has established a reputation for itself in the creation of beautifully embroidered designs in contemporary vestment work; designs heavily rooted in the Italian tradition in particular, as well as the French and, more recently, gothi…
Italian Heraldist Marco Foppoli on the Challenges of Contemporary Approaches to Papal Heraldry
About the Author: Marco Foppoli is a well known professional and international heraldic artist. In his thirty-year career he has designed coats of arms for royals, public institutions, and countless bishops, cardinals of the Catholic Church. He collaborates with the Preside…
Forgotten Churches of Rome: Chiesa di Santa Rita da Cascia alle Vergini
When you think of the city of Rome and its churches we have a natural -- and understandable -- tendency to focus on, first of all, the papal/patriarchal basilicas like St. Peter's, St. Paul's, etc. The from there, we tend to shift next to some of the minor basilica…
Antique Phelonia (Chasubles) From the Russian Tradition
Awhile back we shared some general examples of antique vestments in the Eastern tradition. There we had noted that, unlike their Latin rite counterparts, it seemed that examples of antique vestments in the Christian East were far more difficult to come by. I suspect this i…
The Remarkable Carved Angel Hammerbeam Roof of St Agnes Church in Cawston, Norfolk
Norfolk in the United Kingdom is justly famed for its beautiful medieval churches, a number of which still retain pre-Reformation features like painted rood screens. Today, however, we are not going to look at a rood, but rather at a roof -- yes, you read that correctly. Chu…
Vestments from the Cathedral of Beauvais
The Cathédrale Saint-Pierre in Beauvais, France has a beautiful set of red velvet vestments within its treasury that showcase some of the great beauty of the French vestment tradition. Velvet was, of course, of particular popularity within France, as were vestments covered …
Martin Earle's Prize Winning Altarpiece of Saints and Blesseds of Cumbria
Martin Earle is a British artist that we have featured here on LAJ before. His work falls into the the Byzantine as well as Western medieval tradition. Recently the Catholic Art Institute awarded its 2024 Sacred Art Prize and this particular work earned the prize for secon…
Before and After: Sacred Heart Church in Peoria, Illinois
Today we are going to look at a project which happened a few years back, but which is particularly striking. The project planning actually began back in 2005 and came in relation to the church's one hundredth anniversary preparations. This particular project involved t…
A 17th Century Altarpiece Saved From the French Revolution (Now To Be 'Saved' From a 1960's Whitewashing)
Located within the French town of Buschwiller, which itself is located right near the border with Germany, is the parish church of St. Martin, and within that parish is an altarpiece that has had quite a journey in its history. The altarpiece's 'life' began in 1…
Fit For Spring: Venetian Paraments from ca. 1690-1710
One of my favourite things at this time of the year, a period of time which finds nature springing back to colour and life, a time too when we find ourselves in the month of Mary (symbolized as she is by so many flowers), is to feature sacred vestments of the same sort. Typ…
Papal Kneeler of Pope Pius IX
This papal kneeler is one of a few oversized Baroque kneelers that have been used for countless papal ceremonies over the years in St. Peter's Basilica. It was also utilized during the last Council, easily recognizable in old photos. To see it in person is an experience…
Swords of Papal Knights, Palatine Guard, Members of the Papal Court
Swords have long been a staple at papal liturgies. They are part of the formal dress of courtiers and security forces of the popes. As such, they are often de rigueur , required by etiquette and fashion. Those who carry the sword are not necessarily armigerous. Sometimes suc…
Tapestries of Papal Liturgies
The splendid papal liturgies celebrated publicly before the reform of the 1960s were few and far between. They were big and rare events. One thing that stood out were the precious tapestries that went on display for these liturgical events, sometimes a background the papal …
Echoes of the Papal Court: Cameriere di Spada a Cappa (Lay Version)
Some readers have asked for images of the Cameriere di Spade e Cappa, a lay position in the Papal Court abolished in the late 1960s. This role was part of the Papal Court, by extension, part of the Roman Curia. The Curia has been since the end of the 11th century the highes…
The Caudatario: The Carrier of the Train of a Cappa Magna
At Solemn Pontifical Masses for Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church there is a tradition of the caudatari, or "carrier of the strascico (portatore dello strascico) , holding the dragging edge of the cappa magana of the prelate. The person in this role generally is the la…
The Papal Blessing Benedictio Coram Populo: Urbi et Orbi
The papal blessing known as the Benedictio Coram Populo, or more commonly as the Urbi et Orbi (to the city [of Rome] and to the world) blessing, is pronounced by the popes on certain solemn occasions such as the Election of a Roman Pontiff, New Years Day or on other special…
Before and After: Immaculate Heart of Mary in Hays, Kansas
Conrad Schmitt Studios, based out of Wisconsin, recently shared news of a beautiful project they undertook at Immaculate Heart of Mary Church in Hays, Kansas that effectively functions as both a "before and after" as well as a tutorial on something we like to disc…
Paul the Silentiary's Description of the Altar, Ciborium and Balustrade of Hagia Sophia in A.D. 563
Today I wanted to share a description of the altar, ciborium and chancel screen of the great Eastern Roman church of Hagia Sophia in Constantinople. This particular description was written in the year 563 by Paul the Silentiary, a Byzantine courtier in the service of the Em…
