The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, (sculpture).

The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, (sculpture).

Fiteni, Eugene, d. 1966, designer.

Matteoni, Umberto, sculptor.

Botteghi, Roland, contractor.

Canovaro, Placido, fabricator.

Francesconi Brothers, contractor.

O'Connell Statuary Company, fabricator.

The Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes, (sculpture).

Mount Calvary, (sculpture).

Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes, (sculpture).

1938-1947. Grotto dedicated Sept. 4, 1938. Fountain installed 1944. Mount Calvary dedicated Sept. 7, 1947.

Digital Reference:

Sculpture: painted cast concrete, Carrara marble; Grotto: cast concrete, stucco, masonry.

Overall: approx. H. 22 ft. x W. 92 ft.

(On monument at the foot of Mount Calvary:) MOUNT CALVARY/ERECTED BY EUGENE FITENI O.S.A./WAS INAUGURATED SEPTEMBER 7, 1947 unsigned

Site installation consisting of two parts connected by a rusticated arch. On the proper left of the arch is the original installation, the Grotto of Our Lady of Lourdes. The Grotto contains a marble sculpture of Mary mounted on a shelf and a marble sculpture of St. Bernadette praying to Mary. On the proper right of the rusticated arch is Mount Calvary which consists of four grottos, a ramp above the grottos and a stair at the rear of the structure. Along the top of Mount Calvary are the 12 Stations of the Cross with a bas-relief sculpture representing each Station housed in twelve niches. At the pinnacle of the structure is a cast stone sculpture of the Crucifixion.

Along the base of the ramp are the grottos. The first grotto on the left is the Holy Sepulchre which has an outer chamber and an inner chamber. The inner chamber contains a life-size sculpture of the dead Christ. The next grotto to the right is the Grotto of Our Lady of Sorrow, which contains a life-size figure of Mary holding the body of Christ on her lap. To the right of that are the Arches of the Via Dolorosa in Jerusalem which contain two sculptures. On the proper right is a figure of the Divine Redeemer and on the proper left is a figure of St. Veronica. Both figures are of cast stone. To the right of the Via is the Grotto of Bethlehem. This grotto consists of an outer chamber which has a sunken floor area and the figures of Mary, St. Joseph and the Christ Child. An inner chamber contains a diorama of the countryside outside of Bethlehem and includes small figures of shepherds, sheep, the three Wisemen, a camel and a camel driver. To the right of that is the Grotto of Gethsemani which contains a figure of Christ kneeling in prayer. The final installation is the cast stone figure of an angel announcing the Passion of Christ.

Religion -- Saint -- St. Bernadette

Religion -- New Testament -- Crucifixion

Religion -- New Testament -- Mary

Religion -- New Testament -- Christ

Religion -- Saint -- St. Veronica

Religion -- New Testament -- Nativity

Religion -- New Testament -- Agony in the Garden

Religion -- New Testament -- Crucifixion

Religion -- Angel

Religion -- Saint -- St. Joseph

Outdoor Sculpture -- New Jersey -- Vineland

Administered by Our Lady of Pompeii Parish, 4680 Dante Avenue, Vineland, New Jersey 08360

Located Dante & Cornucopia Avenues, Vineland, New Jersey

The shrine was designed and installed under the leadership of Rev. Eugene Fiteni. The sculptures of the Lady of Lourdes and St. Bernadette were carved in Italy by Matteoni. Much of the materials and labor for the installation were provided by church parishioners. IAS files contain detailed dimensions for individual pieces sited in the installation. IAS files contain dates of installation and donor names. The installation underwent renovation in 1965 and again in 1980 (under the direction of Alex Marineti and Jack Spadoni). Restoration work in 1980 included masonry repair and repainting. IAS files contain copies of related articles from Sunday Press (Atlantic City, NJ), Sept. 11, 1983; The Vineland Times Journal, Nov. 24, 1979, Sept. 8, 1978 and Sept. 11, 1965; and The Star Herald, May 12, 1967.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New Jersey survey, 1995.

Sunday Press (Atlantic City, NJ), Sept. 11, 1983.

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

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