BENEDICTINE ICONOGRAPHER

 

I am always on the lookout for Benedictine authors and artists. Here is one who lives not so far- as the eagle flies- from us. Mount Angel Abbey  is located at the eastern edge of the beautiful Willamette Valley, about an hour's drive south of Portland. It is a sister to Conception Abbey in Missouri which has the Printery.

BROTHER CLAUDE LANE, OSB is the full-time iconographer of this Benedictine Abbey. He has been drawing and painting since childhood. He entered Mount Angel in 1972 and made his vows in 1974.

In 1985, Abbot Bonaventure encouraged him to try iconography. He has written over a hundred icons. Unlike most iconographers who exactly copy outlines provided by ancient tradition, Brother Claude prefers to follow the style of classic iconography while creating original images from multiple sources of inspiration.

He draws upon Roman Catholic concepts in his art in addition to Orthodox ones.

Brother Claude was instrumental in the establishment of the Mount Angel Abbey Iconography Institute, an annual week-long training experience for iconographers since 1986.

                                                    St. Benedicta of the Cross- Edith Stein

Left: St. Teresa and Jesus