A moment of compassion becomes a work of art in this organic wax sculpture by Sister Jeanne Dueber, S.L., gifted to the Marian Library by Allen W. Bernard. Dueber’s expressive use of organic materials and spiritual storytelling captures one of the most powerful moments of the Stations of the Cross — St. Veronica wiping Christ’s face on the road to Calvary.
According to Church tradition, Veronica was among the crowd in Jerusalem along Jesus’ route to Calvary. As Jesus was carrying the cross, his face covered with sweat and blood, Veronica is said to have been so moved with compassion that she pushed through the crowd, took the veil from her head and wiped the sweat and blood from Jesus’ face. An imprint of his face is said to have remained on the fabric. This moment has become the sixth station of the cross.
The Artist
Dueber, who died in January, used sculpture and mixed media to explore spirituality, the human form and the natural world. A longtime artist-in-residence at the Loretto Motherhouse in Nerinx, New York, Dueber created bold, expressive works from wood and organic materials, often blending abstraction with spiritual themes. Her art reflects movement and contemplation, inviting viewers to engage with questions of faith, energy and human connection. With work exhibited in more than 100 shows across the United States and held in public and private collections, her creative vision has left a profound mark on the contemporary art world.
Rooted in experimentation and invention, Dueber’s artistic practice was shaped by scholarship and intuition — from studying sculpture at the University of Iowa to receiving a Fulbright-Hays grant to study art history in Italy. Her monumental sculptures, often drawn from natural forms, reveal a lifelong fascination with construction, texture and finding the sacred in everyday materials. Dueber also used her work to express a philosophy of creativity as spiritual exploration, showing how art can challenge, inspire and transform. Her legacy endures not only in her sculptures, but in the generations of artists and admirers moved by her vision.
The Donation
“Veronica Wiping Jesus’s Face” is one of 19 works Bernard recently donated to the Marian Library, including 17 prints and a silhouette drawing. These artworks include biblical scenes depicting Mary — such as the Pietà and the Flight to Egypt — as well as other Old and New Testament stories, saints, social justice themes and churches dedicated to Mary.
— Nicole Burkett is an art collection specialist in the Marian Library.