I first met Chase Howell ’24, ’26 in 2023 when he brought a visiting speaker to the Marian Library. Though I recognized his deep appreciation for the Marian Library’s collection of rare books, artifacts and artwork, I did not know the depth of his talent as an artist. Howell, who earned degrees in both marketing and theology from the University of Dayton, says "there is no doubt that I have been influenced by UD’s Marianist charism when it comes to my drawings.”
With donor support, the Marian Library commissioned Howell to design a piece of Marian artwork on a topic of his choosing. He describes the piece, “Bride of the Spirit,” as “an amalgamation of various devotions and biblical events: the Annunciation, the woman in Revelation 12 and Queen of Heaven, the Hail Mary prayer, and Mary as the Bride of the Holy Spirit.” Howell’s artwork was accessioned into the Marian Library art collection and is currently on display in the Campus Ministry office in Marycrest Hall.
THE ARTIST’S PROCESS
In his art, Howell blends his personal devotion with the creativity to imagine depictions of Mary that may go beyond doctrine and dogma to create artwork that fosters deeper relationships with the transcendent. He describes his artwork as popular devotional art, sometimes using symbols or themes from sacred iconography, but in different presentations.
Howell suggests his drawing process has two main parts: the pencil sketch and then the ink tracing. He explains, “for the pencil sketch, I start by tracing a 2 inch inlay and use the corners to determine the center of the poster. After creating this inner frame and finding the center point, I will begin sketching the inner frame that will eventually encompass the drawing’s subject matter. When I am satisfied with the inner frame, I will begin to sketch the main subject. During this whole time, I will jump between the frame and the figure, adding or subtracting elements, and all around trying to find a certain balance.”
THE SYMBOLISM
Viewing art as a living and interactive process, Howell says that his explanation of the symbolism found in the piece “should not limit people from finding their own meanings and insights when viewing this image.”
- Bouquet of lilies: the lily is often used in Marian art to speak to the belief that Mary retained her virginity in the conception of Jesus. This detail is to emphasize the bridal imagery.
- 12 stars: the 12 stars that surround Mary recall the woman in chapter 12 of the Book of Revelation, the 12 tribes of Israel and the 12 apostles. The Annunciation can be understood as the moment a princess of Israel is crowned Queen of Heaven because it is the moment she becomes the Mother of God she also becomes the Queen Mother.
- Holy Spirit and seven rays of light: Christian art will often depict the Holy Spirit in the form of a dove with seven rays of light. The seven rays of light are meant to represent the seven gifts of the Holy Spirit
- The Hail Mary prayer: inside the frame that contains the central figure of Mary are the 41 English words of the Hail Mary prayer. The frame consists of 40 tiles, a biblical number recalling Israel’s 40 years in the wilderness and Jesus’ 40 days in the desert. This prayer recalls the moment of the Annunciation where Mary is given the title Full of Grace.
- Sun and moon: the sun and moon tiles recall the woman in Revelation 12. Mary is often depicted in Christian art standing above the sun and moon.
- Crown of flowers: Mary is often depicted in Christian art with flowers, each with their own meaning. A crown of flowers recalls the tradition of May Crowning, an act of veneration for the Queen of Heaven.
— Kayla Harris is an associate professor in the University Libraries, associate dean for special collections and executive director of the Marian Library.