April 7, 2003

SLU Events Share Art, History Behind "New" Cathedral Mosaics

This mosaic panel was created by the Ravenna Mosaic Company based on a drawing by Hildreth Meiere. The panel can be found on St. Bartholomew's Episcopal Church in New York City.

ST. LOUIS -- Pius XII Memorial Library is pleased to announce the first of a series of events highlighting the work of the Ravenna Mosaic Company of St. Louis.

The Ravenna Mosaic Company was responsible for the design, creation, and installation of virtually all of the mosaics in the Cathedral Basilica of St. Louis (the St. Louis "New" Cathedral) on Lindell Boulevard. The St. Louis Cathedral contains the largest single collection of mosaics in the world.

The University Archives in Pius Library became the repository for the corporate records of the Ravenna Mosaic Company in May 1992, due primarily to the efforts of Father Maurice McNamee, S. J., Professor Emeritus of English at Saint Louis University.

Part of this "Ravenna Project" includes a formal exhibition October 2003 in the McNamee Gallery of the Samuel Cupples House. The exhibit entitled: "The Ravenna Mosaic Company: A Retrospective," will include several Ravenna mosaics as well as numerous drawings, photographs, documents, and objects associated with the work of the Ravenna Company.