I often think that one of the most overlooked periods of sacred art is the early 1900s. Christian artists of that period had a deep respect for tradition but were nit afraid to adapt traditional forms to contemporary needs. If anything their work displays a logical progression in the development of Christian art before art took a downward spiral into endless “-isms.”
Bruno-René de Cramer , known as René de Cramer , was born on December 27, 1876 in the town of Aalter, Belgium into a Catholic family. He was a painter, illustrator and engraver. He trained at the Saint-Luc school in Ghent, and later became one of its teachers. His success led him to work for clients in Belgium , France and Luxembourg.
The Saint-Luc schools were founded by Jean-Baptiste Béthune . Their mission was to form a network of Catholic schools to train artists and craftsmen to work for the artistic and religious renewal of society through the neo-Gothic style .
Here he learned drawing, painting, modelling, sculpture, and copper work but also the history of art and the evolution of styles. He distinguished himself by winning several prizes (first prize in the seventh year of painting and prize of the Guild of Saint Luke and Saint Joseph in 1898, grand prize in 1899 with Achille Ladon)
During his studies, he became interested in the Art Nouveau and pre- Raphaelite movements, which had a great deal of influence on his later works.
He quickly began a career as a painter and decorator, particularly for churches. In 1921, he provided illustrations for the missal of Dom Gaspar Lefebvre , a Benedictine monk. This is perhaps the work for which he is best known today. This “Daily and Vesperal Missal” can be considered one of the most important books in the life of the Catholic Church in the first half of the 20th century. In the years that followed, he continued to collaborate with Gaspar Lefebvre and to illustrate books or documents related to the work of the Benedictine monk: “The Liturgical Apostolate”.
He died in Ghent on November 22, 1951.
De Cramer was an eclectic artist. His works shows influences of neo-Gothic, pre-Raphaelite, art nouveau, symbolists, orientalists and finally art deco. He created paintings, frescoes, designed mosaics, drew tourist or commemorative posters as well as a large number of illustrations. He created triptychs and altarpieces , war memorials , and stained glass windows..
Many of his works are collaborations with his artist friends like Frans Coppejans or Oscar Sinia,
His religious works show a deep spirituality, a great knowledge of Christian art through the centuries, and keen theological insight. They are also often didactic in nature, de Cramer thought that art could be used to teach the Catholic faith. His colors are bright and soft. His figures, when they are not taken up with dramatic movement are filled with serenity and contemplation.
Unfortunately, many of his works have not survived world wars, changes in tastes, and the liturgical reforms following Vatican II.
Here are some of his works outside of his illustrations for the Dom Gaspar Missal:
