DE WIT PAINTING RESTORED AT WSU NEWMAN CENTER
Our librarian, Bonnie Bess Wood, sent us this link as testimony to a small miracle. It seems that the Newman Center at Wichita State University has found and restored a painting by Dom Gregory de Wit, the muralist of our monastic refectory and abbey church. Dom Gregory is a much-beloved figure here, as his art has had such an impact on the architecture housing the two pivital anchors of our day, prayer and meals. We are always interested in following the stories of his paintings. If any of our alumni or friends are in the Wichita area and would like to send us a large-sized digital photograph of this painting, we would be most appreciative. Please email the original RAW-format or jpg to
Fr. Matthew Clark, Alumni Director
alumni@sjasc.edu
Written by John P. Brunke
About a year ago, Newman Center Alumni were reminiscing about a painting that used to hang in the main chapel. It was painted on 4 sheets of plywood, making this piece of art a massive 12'x8' long. We began searching and asking around, but it was nowhere to be found. It was only this past summer (2009) that it was found in the back of the shed covered with dirt and dust.
The painting was done by Dom Gregory De Wit O.S.B. in 1954. The word 'Dom' is traditionally given as a title of respect in monastic orders. Although we know very little about the painter, we do know that he was a close friend of one of the first Newman Center chaplains, possible Fr. Ed Pfirman, as he was the chaplain at the time the painting was done. Dom De Wit was born in Hilversum, Holland in 1892, entered the Benedictine Monastery at the Abbey of Mont Cesar, Louvain, Belgium in 1913, and was ordained in 1918. Dom began studying art in Belgium, Germany, and Italy, and began creating murals in 1930. At the invitation of the Abbot of St. Meinrad Abbey in Indiana, Dom De Wit came to the US. Dom De Wit died in 1978.
The painting has been hung on the southern end of the basement. The painting portrays Christ standing in the middle, with male and a female worshipper flanking either side in a state of prayer. It is unclear as to who the worshippers are without speculating. Across the bottom is the Latin phrase, Surrexistis Cum Christo, which means You have been raised with Christ, Colossians 3:1. The entire passage from Col. 3:1 reads, If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. If you find a few moments wander downstairs and checkout this amazing piece of Newman Center History.
