Marist Heritage
Montagne Painting
The Montagne Incident In this painting the artist has depicted the pivotal event in the life of Marcellin Champagnat - the so called "Montagne Incident", which confirmed his intention to establish the Brothers as part of the Marist project. The artist drew his inspiration from Michelangelo's Pieta with Marcellin holding the body of the dead boy. Within this posture there is a suggestion of Marcellin holding the Sacred Host as he would at the Eucharistic elevation. Marcellin is looking heavenward, perhaps in search of answers for this death, but also to commend this soul into the hands of the Father.
Champagnat Painting Along with Marcellin is the figure of Mary, supporting him in his grief. The characters in the background on our left are the dead boy's family along with European violets in the margin. On the right side are two students and their teacher, contemporary Australians associated with the oldest Australian Marist school now located at Dundas in Sydney. In the right hand margin - the gum leaves symbolise the Marists in Australia.
(from a statement by the artist, Paul Newton, 1998)
Photos:
Above: Montagne Painting
Below: Champagnat Painting