Les sources iconographiques des portraits fictifs du père jésuite Jacques Marquette

Les sources iconographiques
des portraits fictifs du père jésuite Jacques Marquette

1930 John Warner Norton

John Warner Norton, . Photo : Bart Harris. Source.

Cette murale, de 35 x 38 pieds, a été peinte en 1930 par John Warner Norton pour la Elizabeth Cudahy Memorial Library, Loyola University, Chicago. Son titre apparaît, en bas à gauche, présenté par deux jésuites et trois Amérindiens : « TERRAE NOVAE IN AMERICA SEPTENTRIONALI PP SOC IESU EXPLORATA ET EVANGELIZATAE ». Le dessin préliminaire ci-contre a été utilisé pour les têtes de ces deux jésuites.

« Heads of Missionaries on left-hand title of mural in Cudahy Memorial Library, Drawned by Mr. John Norton », Loyola University archives. Photo : collaboration de Ruth D. Nelson.

Marquette et Jolliet apparaissent en bas à droite, près d'un canot avec trois Amérindiens.

Jeune, glabre, humble, cheveux blonds et longs issus de 1892 Gibbs (prémonitoires de 1952 Wood), Marquette porte un livre à sa main droite au niveau de sa taille (1884 Melchers), un grand chapeau (1841 Darley) à sa main gauche pendante et une grande croix suspendue au milieu de sa cuisse, soit une synthèse de plusieurs modèles iconographiques. Jolliet porte un chapeau et s'appuie sur son fusil posé au sol.

L'ensemble de la murale s'inspire de la carte dessinée par Marquette illustrant ses explorations. Norton y a ajouté une série de petites vignettes d'activités missionnaires à diverses dates. Les personnages y sont présentés de façon schématique et ne permettent pas d'y reconnaître de véritables portraits.

« In that same year [1930], with the assistance from Tom Lea and June Knabel, Norton completed a map mural for the Elizabeth M. Cudahy Memorial Library, Main Reading Room of Loyola University in Chicago. The map documented Jesuit missionary activity in the Great Lakes Region and the Upper Mississippi Valley during the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries. The work was done for Norton’s friend Andrew Rebori of Rebori, Wentworth, Dewey & McCormick, Inc., Architects. This mural’s light, ephemeral palette continues to glow in Loyola’s “cathedral of learning.” » Source.

Photo : Source.

Photo : source.

Design of Cudahy Library

The Cudahy Memorial Library (1930) was designed by Andrew N. Rebori of the architectural firm of Rebori, Wentworth, Dewey and McCormick. In contrast to the classical style of other buildings on the Lake Shore campus, Rebori designed an Art Deco building. The library is constructed of concrete and structural steel with an exterior of limestone. The interior walls consist of Mankato stone.

A highlight of the Cudahy Library is the main reading room. A concrete monolithic arched ceiling, stained glass windows throughout by Giannini and Hilgart, and a mural by artist, John Warner Norton (1876-1934). This noted Chicago artist, who also taught at the School of the Art institute of Chicago, is known for his mural such as Ceres (1930) in the Chicago Board of Trade Building and for collaborating with architects such as Holabird, Root and Frank Lloyd Wright. His mural painting on the west wall of the library reading room was conceived as “a pictorial cartographical record of Jesuit missionary activity in the Great Lakes Region and the Upper Mississippi Valley during the 17th and 18th centuries.”

The original ornate exterior features a frieze of Latin names of subject of study. Located over the doors of the main entrance (south side of the building) is a bronze sunburst symbolizing that books are the morning light to those seeking knowledge. To the left of the doors is a tower with a sun dial inscribed with A.M.D.G., the Jesuit motto, “For the greater glory of God.” The original layout of the library consisted of one level with five floors of stack decks.

Photo de Ceres : source.

Photo : source.