Art

Item Description

Catholic Priest and wellknown artist of icons and paintings, Father John Giuliani, created this piece in 1992. 

The son of Italian immigrants, John Giuliani developed an early interest in drawing which led him to study art at Pratt Institute in New York.  Soon his religious calling took precedence, and he was ordained as a Catholic priest, temporarily putting aside his art to give his life to the church as a chaplain and priest while continuing to study the humanities.

He earned M.A. degrees in classical literature and art, theology and American Studies.  Combining his interests in art and theology he apprenticed with Russian icon master, Vladislav Andreyev, to learn thoroughly that ancient tradition.  For fifteen years Giuliani taught Latin, the Humanities and American Film at the Bridgeport Connecticut Diocesan Seminary, at Fairfield University and at Sacred Heart University.  During the late 70s Father Giuliani embarked on a new pursuit, founding the Benedictine Grange, a small monastic community in West Redding, Connecticut where he continues to pursue a variety of ministries flowing from the contemplative life.

After years of teaching and nurturing his faith community he returned to painting with an inspired vision and a renewed drive drawing from his intensive love of art.  In resuming his painting he began making iconic depictions of Native American peoples as Christian saints.  A number of these paintings are installed at churches in the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota, also in Rapid City and at numerous institutions throughout the United States.

Asked to explain his decision to portray the faces of the sacred as Native Americans, Giuliani explains:

As a Catholic priest and son of Italian immigrants I bear the religious and ethnic burden of ancestral crimes perpetrated on the first inhabitants of the Americas.  Many have been converted to Christianity, but in doing so some find it difficult to retain their indigenous culture.  My intent, therefore, in depicting Christian saints as Native Americans is to honor them and to acknowledge their original spiritual presence on this land.  It is this original Native American spirituality that I attempt to celebrate in rendering the beauty and excellence of their craft as well as the dignity of their persons.

Father Giuliani is the 2007 recipient of the Mother Theresa Award for Religious Art.  In 2001 he was honored to be asked to create the banner for the annual Pallio in Italy.  His work has been exhibited at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in New York City, the New Britain Museum of American Art, the Marian Institute in Dayton, Ohio, the Basilica of St. Mary in Minneapolis and at the Aldrich Museum in Ridgefield, Connecticut.  Several dozens of his work are in private collections throughout the country.

This 26" x 14" print has been professionally framed in a black frame and mat and is ready for display in your personal gallery.