The Art in the Basilica

Originally the walls, pillars and ceilings were of pure white washed plaster, which in time turned gray. The stained glass, which is magnificently preserved, is original. Many of the windows were placed in the building at the time of construction 1901-1902. The glass was imported from the Tyrolean Artists' Guild in Innsbruck, Austria. In the sanctuary west, we find the image of the Sacred Heart appearing to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque. The next window, moving to the right is the brilliant rendering of the Annunciation. In the western transept we find the Nativity of Our Lord flanked by the defenders of the Church, St. Peter and St. Paul. To the right, is the poignant image of the Agony in the Garden. Next follows the Resurrection. In the rear east is the image of the Pentecost. To the right, we find the image of the woman washing the feet of Jesus. The next image of particular significance in Polish Catholic spirituality is the raising of Piotrowin from the dead by St. Stanislaus. The Blessed Mother appears with the Infant Jesus presenting the rosary to St. Dominic while St. Catherine of Sienna looks on. In the eastern transept, this image is flanked by St. Thomas Aquinas and St. Hyacinth. To the right is the apparition of the Blessed Mother with the Baby Jesus to St. Stanislaus Kostka. In the sanctuary, we find the image of the martyrdom of St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr.

The first painting in the church was that of the "Martyrdom of St. Josaphat," found directly behind and above the main altar. It was painted by Professor J.S. Zukotynski of Chicago in 1904. The scope of the decorations in general may be judged by the central figure--St. Josaphat himself. It is 13 feet high.

No other work was done until 1926, that is, after the church debt was liquidated. Fr. Felix Baran spent a long time seeking out an artist who would provide an interior corresponding in beauty and interest to its architectural design.

His choice fell on Professor Gonippo Raggi. Prof. Raggi was born in Rome, Italy, the descendant of a long line of famous Italian artists. At an early age, when most boys are just learning to read, he was already learning the rudiments of art from his uncle, Alexander Raggi, one of the most famous Italian artists of his day. Gonippo was a graduate of St. Michael's art school and St. Luke's royal academy of fine arts. Prof. Raggi first visited the United States in 1907. From that time he had decorated several large churches, among them the Basilica of the National Shrine of Our Lady of Victory at Lackawanna, N.Y. (This church was the second church elevated to the rank of "minor basilica" in the United States. Several months before our own was so honored.) Many art critics consider it one of the most beautifully decorated interiors in America. The work on St. Josaphat Church was started in September 1926, under the supervision of Prof. Raggi. Twelve artists worked under him, although the professor did all the figure work himself.

Above the "Martyrdom" (as noted above) in the central apse of the sanctuary, we find the first of Prof. Raggi's works: "The Glorification of St. Josaphat." This painting alone contains 25 figures. It depicts a glorious image of Josaphat entering heaven in the midst of angelic choirs and instrumentalists. He is greeted by the Lord Jesus on his right and the Blessed Virgin Mary to his left.

Two lunettes of the Holy Virtues flank the "Glory of St. Josaphat." On the left (as one faces the altar) are Faith, Hope, Charity and Justice. On the right: Prudence, Fortitude, Wisdom and Goodness. In the sanctuary, to the right of the "Martyrdom of St. Josaphat", is a painting of St. Vincent de Paul, known for his works of charity among the poor in France. This painting, as well as that of St. Andrew Bobola, the Polish Jesuit who was killed by the Cossacks in 1657,was added in 1936.

Next to St. Vincent de Paul is depicted the "Miracle of Vistula," commemorating the defeat of the Bolsheviks by the Poles on August 15, 1920. Cardinal Achille Rati, (the future Pope Pius XI), then Apostolic Delegate to Poland, is pictured praying to the Blessed Virgin of Czestochowa for victory. Cardinal Rati, upon his election to the Papacy, was succeeded in Poland by Cardinal Lauri. Cardinal Lauri was a cousin to Prof. Raggi. When Cardinal Lauri returned to Rome from Poland in 1927, he prevailed upon his cousin that the "Miracle of the Vistula" be included among the paintings in the sanctuary of the Basilica.

On the opposite side of the sanctuary is a panel containing the figures of St. Hedwig, Patroness of Poland, and selected Polish Saints: St. James, St. Hyacinth, Bl. Bronislava, and St. Cunegunda.

Above the altar of the Annunciation on the west side of the sanctuary, is a painting of St. Dominic and St. Catherine with the Blessed Virgin. The altars on the far east and far west sides of the sanctuary are interesting in that they differ in style. These altars are "survivors" of the fire that claimed the original church building in 1889. More ornate and reflecting the baroque, they depart from the neoclassical Romanesque found elsewhere in the sanctuary. On the west, above the altar of St. Joseph, Prof. Raggi has depicted the death of St. Joseph. Above the eastern altar, dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary, the Guardian Angel and Child. Completing the images in the sanctuary on the near east side is the altar of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. Above it, a beautiful painting of Saint Theresa of Lisieux, the "Little Flower," entering heaven.

In studying the decoration of the dome, one should keep in mind that it is comparable to the dome of St. Peter's in Rome. The proportions of the eight various sections are exactly the same, though those of St. Peter's are, naturally, much larger. St. Peter's dome is decorated in blue and gold. Prof. Raggi, wishing to follow a similar color scheme, made much use of lapis lazuli and gold.

The artistic and symbolic idea of the decorations in the dome was to represent Catholic faith in its magnitude, starting from the beginning of time to the present. The very center of the dome is a window made of crystal three inches thick. The center opens during the summer months to allow for air exchange through the windows at the base of the church. Eight compartments signifying the Biblical divisions of angels (angels, cherubim, seraphim, virtues, thrones, powers, dominations and principalities) are depicted. The ninth division, the archangels, is pictured in the sanctuary above the altar.

In the panels below the angels, we find Prophets of the Old Testament who predicted the coming of the Messiah. In the center is Moses (the panel closest to the main altar) and to the right, Joshua, Jeremiah, Daniel, Amos, Jonah, Isaiah and Elijah

In the panels below the Prophets are groups of Apostles and leading Doctors of the Church. Saints Peter and Paul are found in the center and, to the right, St. Mark with St. Alphonsus Ligouri; St. John, the Evangelist, with St. Gregory the Great; St. Bartholomew with St. Jerome; St. James, the Younger, with St. Augustine; St. James, the Elder with St. Thomas Aquinas; St. Luke with St. Ambrose; and, St. Matthew with St. John Chrysostom. The figures and their respective emblems are painted on a gold mosaic background.

The windows in the dome, created in Lucerne, Switzerland, depict various apparitions of the Blessed Virgin in Poland and Eastern Europe. From the center, to the right we find: Our Lady of Czestochowa (Patroness of Poland. Church and monastery of Jasna Gora are depicted under the image); Our Lady of Ostrobrama; Our Lady of Mercy (pictured above the main altar in the Cathedral of Lwow); Our Lady of Zebrzydowa; the Coronation of the Blessed Virgin in Heaven;. Our Lady of Pinsk; Our Lady of the Sands in Krakow; and, Our Lady of Gidle.

In the large panels on the drum of the dome are the paintings depicting the Nativity of Our Lord, and the seven Sacraments: Baptism, Confirmation, Penance, Holy Eucharist, Holy Orders, Extreme Unction, and Matrimony. Around the corona of the dome, written in old Polish, are the beautiful words of Sacred Scripture (1Kings 9:3). God's response to Solomon's prayer at the Dedication of the Temple: "I consecrate this house you have built. I place my Name here forever. My eyes and my heart shall always be here." Directly below the corona of the dome we find medallions of some of the saints. Among them we find St. Louis, King of France, St. Vincent de Paul, St. Hedwig, and, St. Stanislaus, Bishop and Martyr.

Scenes from the mystical life of St. Francis of Assisi are found in eight lunettes over the cornices. Starting at the center and continuing to the right, we see: St. Francis receiving the Stigmata on Mt. Alverno; St. Francis in Ecstasy; St. Francis and St. Dominic meeting for the first time; St. Francis preaching the Gospel to the Sultan; St. Francis receiving the Portiuncula Indulgence from the Blessed Mother; St. Francis and the Lamb; St. Francis receiving the approbation for the Rule of his Order from Pope Innocent III; the death of St. Francis.

"Polonia" - apotheosis of Poland, depicting Thaddeus Kosciuszko and others is located above the west side exit. Above the side exit on the east is a painting of the Rev. Peter Skarga, eminent and eloquent court preacher, preaching to the King, Queen, notable Courtiers, a Cardinal and some monks, against the invasion of Poland.

The painting on the rear wall of the gallery, on the west side, depicts a young Religious, at the time of pronouncing her religious vows. She kneels before the Bishop, who imparts his blessings; by her side is the scourging whip. The Bishop's chaplain stands with the opened book to the right; on the left of the Bishop is depicted a saint of the Franciscan Order with the martyr's palm and a Dominican saint is pictured in the kneeling position.

On the east side gallery wall, is a painting, which symbolizes the first partition of Poland by the Prussians, Russians and Austrians. On the throne is seated Saint Hedwig, the Queen of Poland. She is depicted as the Spirit of National Unity, standing on guard over the then partitioned country. Above her head is painted the Polish Flag, on the white background are inscribed the years 1831-1863; circling the throne, in kneeling position are the figures of a bishop, St. Francis and St. Clare; the figure of the peasant represents the lay people of Poland.

Three figures in relief are found on the rear wall of the church. In the center stands Pope Leo XIII, reigning Pontiff when St. Josaphat Church was built (1897-1901); on his right Archbishop Katzer, then Archbishop of Milwaukee; on the Pontiff's left, Cardinal Martinelli, second Apostolic Delegate to the United States, who dedicated St. Josaphat Church in July 1901.

The only other paintings to be found in the upper church are the in the vestibule. Here one finds depicted St. Josaphat in Eastern Rite vesture; St. John Cantius, professor at the University of Krakow; St. Adalbert, Apostolic Delegate to Poland, later martyred by the Prussians; St. Stanislaus Kostka, and St. Casimir.