1956.56: Sketchbook of Studies for "Fresco Class in Action," University of Notre Dame Fresco

Identification and Creation

Object Number

1956.56

People

Jean Charlot, American (Paris, France 1898 - 1979 Honolulu, Hawaii)

Title

Sketchbook of Studies for "Fresco Class in Action," University of Notre Dame Fresco

Classification

Drawings

Work Type

sketchbook

Date

1955

Culture

American

Persistent Link

https://hvrd.art/o/296894

Physical Descriptions

Medium

Sketchbook with black-and-white marbled cardboard covers

Dimensions

actual: 25.8 x 19.7 x 1.2 cm (10 3/16 x 7 3/4 x 1/2 in.)

Inscriptions and Marks

• inscription: front cover, graphite, in artist's hand: JEAN CHARLOT / ART DEPT / NOTRE-DAME
• manufacturer's mark: inside front cover, ink, printed: COMPOSITION BOOKS / NO. 1148 FAINT RULED / NO. 1148 1/4 QUADRILLE RULED / NO. 1148 1/2 UNRULED / NO. 1148 3/4 MARGIN RULED / SIZE 10 1/4 X 7 3/4 / MADE IN THE U.S.A. [circular logo:] ROYAL / VERNON LINE
• inscription: u.r. of p. 1, graphite, in artist's hand: See Mrs. [Gurian?] - library
• inscription: u.r. of p. 1, graphite, in artist's hand: Ch. Murals in Georgia
• inscription: upper center of p. 1, graphite, in artist's hand: [Sr.?] Maraleva / Sunday 11 h 30 m
• inscription: summer 1955, center of p. 1, graphite, signed, in artist's hand: BEGINS HERE: SKETCHES FOR MURAL PAINTED / SUMMER 1955 AT NOTRE DAME. / Jean Charlot
• inscription: center of p. 1, graphite, in artist's hand: Tuesd. 28 / Wed. 29 / Thurs. 30 / Fri 1 / Sat 2 / Sun 3 / Mond. = 2.4 / Tuesd. [ditto] 5
• inscription: center right of p. 1, graphite, in artist's hand: 1.30 / July 28 / Loyola U. Whitehall 4 / 0800 / Ext. 43 / Marguerite / Dejenais / 820 N. Michigan / Loyola
• inscription: upper edge of p. 48V, graphite, in artist's hand: 6-7-8-9-10-11
• inscription: u.r. of p. 48V, graphite, in artist's hand: [illeg., shorthand-- W. Nix?]
• inscription: u.r. of p. 48V, red pencil, in artist's hand: 4-30 [shorthand?]
• inscription: center of p. 48V, graphite, in artist's hand: BEGINS AT BACK

Provenance

Recorded Ownership History

Jean Charlot, gift; to the Fogg Art Museum, 1956.

Acquisition and Rights

Credit Line

Harvard Art Museums/Fogg Museum, Gift of Jean Charlot

Accession Year

1956

Object Number

1956.56

Division

Modern and Contemporary Art

Contact

am_moderncontemporary@harvard.edu

Permissions

The Harvard Art Museums encourage the use of images found on this website for personal, noncommercial use, including educational and scholarly purposes. To request a higher resolution file of this image, please submit an online request.

Descriptions

Description

Sketchbook with black-and-white marbled cardboard covers, black fabric tape over spine. Sewn page block. Piece of old masking tape on front cover. Pages of off-white wove paper, 25.8 x 19.6 cm. Drawings and inscriptions in graphite except where noted. 48 pages, with one page cut out after p. 39 and at least nine pages cut out following p. 44. Pages are numbered at l.r., starting from back of book; drawings [and descriptions here] start at back of book. After p. 40, the book was flipped over and drawings made from the front, on the versos of the pages and upside down from the orientation of the majority of the book. Watermark on each page: ROYAL / WRITING in script.

Commentary

This mural is in the O'Shaughnessy building at the University of Notre Dame. Per conversation with Steve Moriarty, Curator of Photography at the Snite Museum, Notre Dame, 2/4/02: From the 1950s through the 1970s there was a five-year Masters' Degree program for the clergy which was held in the summers so the students could teach during the school year. This mural was the product of one of those summer courses. There is another Charlot mural in the building, done with another class the next summer. The program has since been discontinued.

1R: [vertical] Inscriptions in graphite

1V: Black pencil: Two plans of a building

2R: [vertical] Sketches for plans and elevation of a building. Black pencil.

3R: [horizontal] Sketch for Notre Dame mural, with descriptions
Inscribed around edges of image: tracing a [catenary?]; mortar carried; putting mortar on wall; mixing mortar; DADO; grinding color; painting; mural within mural=Flight Into Egypt
lower edge: 6-18-55
l.r. [encircled:] 1

4R: [vertical] Sketches of Nuns.
PAGE IS LOOSE FROM BINDING.
u.r.: carrying mortar / white habit
l.r.: mixing mortar
u.r. [encircled:] 2
lower edge: 6-18

5R: [vertical] Two Studies for Joseph from "Flight into Egypt"
u.r. [encircled:] 3
center right: mural / within / mural
l.r.: 6-18

6R: [vertical] Study for Joseph from "Flight into Egypt"
u.r. [encircled:] 4
upper edge: PUBLIC / LIBRARY
[two words inscribed, illegible, with arrow drawn to figure of Joseph]
u.l.: [LAKE?]
l.r.: 6-19

6V: Small, slight sketch of nun with tray

7R: [horizontal] Study for Nun holding tray
Notes inscribed in image: Wh.; Bl; Blck leather; veil
u.r.: Mercy
l.r. [encircled:] 5
l.r.: 6-21

8R: [vertical] Sketch for Man with Brush
u.r. [encircled:] 6

8V: [horizontal] Study for nun with saw

9R: [vertical] Study for nun with saw.
Color notes in image: blck; wh; blck leather
u.r.: Ursuline
u.r.: 6-21
u.r. [encircled:] 7

9V: Small sketch for figures at left side

10R: [vertical] Study for man with brush
u.r. [encircled:] 8
l.r.: 6-22

11R: [horizontal] Study for figures at right side, with scaffolding
l.r. [encircled} 10
l.l.: checking lines on cartoon

11V: [horizontal] Sketch of man with brush

12R [vertical] Studies for figures at left side

12V: [vertical] tiny sketch for nun at l.r. with broom
12V-3R: Sketch for figures at left side
l.r.: trough

13V: [horizontal] Compositional sketch for mural
inscribed in image: drwg; fresco; scratch coat [?]
inscribed at top and bottom [as in finished mural?]: QUAM BONUM ET JOCUNDUM EST HABITARE FRATRES IN UNUM // PAINTED IN TRUE MURAL BY MURAL CLASS AND JEAN CHARLOT SUMMER 1955

14R: [horizontal] Studies for nuns drawing on wall (on scaffolding at u.r.? can’t tell)
l.r.: begin cartoon.
l.r.: 6-23

Three brown spots on page like drips of wash?

14V: [horizontal] Compositional sketch for mural

15R: [horizontal] Sketches for Flight into Egypt

16R: [horizontal] Sketches for Flight into Egypt. In graphite and colored pencil.
upper edge: ECCE QUAM BONUM ET JOCUNDUM [ ]
l.r.: 6-24
Note that drawing for Flight into Egypt fresco is shown pinned to back wall instead of pinned to front edge of table as in finished mural.

17R: [horizontal] Study of implements [tools hanging on wall—calipers, right-angle]; sketch of Joseph for Flight into Egypt.
Note that drawing for Flight into Egypt fresco is shown pinned to back wall instead of pinned to front edge of table as in finished mural.

17V: [horizontal] Study for mural with numbers inscribed [sections to be plastered?]
l.r.: [circles drawn] cement tasks

18R: [vertical] Profile Head of a Man [for man with brush?]
l.l.: Bill Glass.
l.r.: 6-25

18V: [horizontal] Sketches of nuns making mural. In graphite and colored pencil.
Inscribed in image: sifting sand; group in white; lime trough; plates for palettes; pigment; plate glass; grinding colors.

Inscribed at lower edge [as in mural?]: PAINTED THE SUMMER 1955 BY CHARLOT MURAL CLASS

19R: [vertical] Studies of nuns with shovel and trowel; Studies of nuns with paints and bucket. In graphite and colored pencil.
u.l.: flight into / Egypt
lower edge as in mural: SUMMER 1955 PAINTED IN [ ]
l.r.: 6-26

20R: [vertical] Standing nun with mortar
u.l.: Dominican w. apron
l.r.: 6-27

20V: [horizontal] Sketch for mural.

21R: [vertical] Head of nun who holds mortar; indistinguishable sketch
center right: 6-27
l.r., crossed out: 6-27

21V: [vertical] Drapery sketch. Notes in image: robe; veil; cowl; apron

22R: [vertical] Arm of nun holding mortar.
l.r.: 6-27
inscribed in image: veil; scapu/lary[?]

23R: [vertical] Detail of nun with broom [Different nun from finished version.] u.r.: Holy Cross
l.r.: 6-28

24R: [horizontal] Arms and torso of nun with broom.
l.r.: 6-28

24V: [horizontal] Study of nun holding mortar [unused pose?]
u.l.: School Sister of N. Dame
l.l., Red pencil: July 2

25R: [vertical] Sketch of nun with broom. [Different nun from finished version.]
Inscriptions in image: blue; veil
l.r.: 6-28

26R: [vertical] Head and torso of nun with broom. In graphite and blue pencil.
In image: blue
u.l.: House of Loreto
l.l.: 6-28

27R: [vertical] Arm and body of nun with broom. In graphite and blue pencil.
l.r.: 6-28

28R: [vertical] Nun with broom. In graphite and blue pencil.
l.r.: 6-28

28V: [vertical] Schedule for June 20 – Aug 2 including mural work and appointments. In graphite and pink and blue pencil.

29R: [vertical] Study for nun with shovel
u.r.: Dominican / with nursing veil
l.r.: 6-29

30R: [horizontal] Arms and body of nun with shovel.
l.r.: 6-29

31R: [horizontal] Hand and shovel.
l.l.: 6-29

31V: Small sketch for nun with shovel. Blue pencil and graphite.

32R: [vertical] Arm of nun with trowel; small sketch of nun holding up plate/easel?
Spot of something brown u.r.
Center rt: 6-30

33R: [vertical] Study for nun at l.r. under scaffolding?
u.r.: S. of Charity / of the B.V.M.
l.r.: 6-30

33V: [vertical] Hand with hammer; slight sketch of figure with trowel and bucket.
Center left, red pencil: July 1

34R: [vertical] Study for nun under scaffolding at l.r.
twice, in image: blck.
u.r.: 6-30

34V: [horizontal] Study for brother with trowel [with glasses, sleeves rolled up]
Center right: brother
l.r., red pencil: July 1

35R: [vertical] Study for nun grinding colors.
u.r.: 6-30
l.l.: grinding colors

35V: [horizontal] Nun in profile, holding up plate
upper edge: S. of N.D. [=Sister of Notre Dame] of Namur
l.r., red pencil: July 1

36R: [vertical] Hands grinding colors
l.r.: 6-30

36V: [horizontal] Scaffolding and legs
l.r., red pencil: July 1

37R: [horizontal] Nun holding plate over bucket? [is this the nun on top of scaffolding?]
u.l.: Josephite
l.r., red pencil: July 1

37V: Small study of nun in profile holding paintbrush
Inscribed in graphite: cast / shadow

38R: [vertical] Study of nun holding paintbrush
In image: blck; brwn
l.l., red pencil: July 2
l.r.: Franciscan

39R: [vertical] Study of nun’s head and habit. Graphite and red pencil
l.r., red pencil: July 2

39V: [horizontal] orant nun or Virgin, with star on forehead
In image: brick; brick mosaic; mural= episodes of life Virgin; brick; predella of [ ] ; dado 10’
Below image: outside brick mosaic. Spoken of w Sr. Madalena

PAGE CUT OUT. [done prior to numbering, as numbering does not skip]

40R: [vertical] Scaffolding and legs.
Center right, red pencil: July 2

[from here, drawings made from opposite end of book—drawings on versos and upside down.]

40V: [vertical] Rectangle marked out with measurements.
Lower edge: MARIGOLD’S ESTHER

41V: [horizontal] Delilah, after Titian?
l.l.: TITIAN
l.r.: Delilah
[a work by Titian that matches this drawing could not be found 1/02.]

42R: [horizontal] Outline of whole mural, divided into sections and numbered (for plastering?) In graphite and colored pencil.
l.l.: 7-3 / scapulary overlap
l.l.: [graphite:] 1st idea / [pink pencil:] cut 7-4 / [blue pencil:] Final – ptg begun 7-5

42V: [vertical] Head of a man, after--?

43R: [horizontal] Study for center section—nuns with hoe, table
l.r.: 7-3

43V: [horizontal] Study for whole mural.
left edge: [Lavanory?] Lit Arts. 7E- 42-St. / NY 17

44R: Three studies for the hoe? [very stylized]

44V: Plan of a building?

AT LEAST 9 pages cut out prior to numbering—numbering does not skip

45V: [vertical] Plan of building. Red pencil and graphite
in image: 20 x 20; 3 1/2; glass

46R: [horizontal] Sketch of interior space

46V: [vertical] Plan of building? In blue pencil.
u.r, gr..: Ann [=Charlot’s daughter] room = 9 x 10 / rear garage width = 18 / depth = 20 / our room = 11 x 11 / corridor = 2 1/2

47R: [vertical] Plan of building.
In image: 11 1/2 [width]; 22 [height]

47V: Plan of building? In blue pencil.

48V: Inscriptions

Publication History

• Agnes Mongan, "The Fogg Art Museum's Collection of Drawings", Harvard Library Bulletin, Harvard University (Cambridge, 1958), vol. 3, no. 2, March, pp. 5-9, p. 206

Exhibition History

• Under Cover: Artists' Sketchbooks, Harvard University Art Museums, Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge, 08/01/2006 - 10/22/2006

Verification Level