Welcome to Jules André Smith’s Garden Chapel of Saint Francis, constructed in 1942. This outdoor chapel is an iconic part of the Maitland Art Center, a National Historic Landmark in Maitland Florida and home to the Art & History Museums of Maitland. To learn more and plan your visit, go to artandhistory.org.
Smith, a devout Christian, dedicated this chapel to his late mother as “a declaration of faith in the presence of the Creative Spirit without which no worthwhile works of art could ever come into existence.” The chapel is in three parts: an open room, a nave, and an altar. As you walk its floors, you’ll discover bird and botanical carvings beneath your feet. To enter the nave, you’ll cross over the words “let your thoughts rest here awhile in beauty and in love.” Each square of the monumental altar cross holds an individual design representing Smith’s Christian beliefs. Nearly 20 feet in height, this massive centerpiece was constructed with unique concrete mixtures and sculpting techniques Smith devised himself. The side walls of the chapel tell the life of Christ, interspersed with images of other religious figures, realized by the hands of Smith and fellow artists.
The garden chapel, a masterpiece of art and architecture, stands as a testament to Jules André Smith’s faith, artistry, and fascination with world cultures. For nearly a century this chapel has inspired artists to create, lovers to wed, and people all over the world to visit in wonder!
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Special thanks to Dante Toska for voiceover and audio engineering on this video.
Негізгі бет The Garden Chapel of Saint Francis at the Maitland Art Center in Central Florida
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