Gregory Gerrer
Encyclopedia
Rev. Gregory Gerrer, OSB
(July 23, 1867August 24, 1946) was a Benedictine Priest at Sacred Heart Abbey
(later, St. Gregory's Abbey
), artist, art historian and museum founder.
, Gerrer participated in a competition of artists to paint the official portrait of the new pope. When Pius saw the finished portrait by Gerrer, he selected it to be his portrait. Pius said that he choose it because the artist painted the him true to life and did not minimize his facial warts.
Gerrer also painted portraits of two World War I Choctaw code talkers
, Otis Leader and Joseph Oklahombi.
The largest collection of his paintings are at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art
in Shawnee, Oklahoma. His work is also in the Vatican
art collection, Rome, Snite Museum of Art
in South Bend, Indiana, and Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
in Norman, Oklahoma.
Gerrer was a co-founder and first president of the Association of Oklahoma Artists.
in 1931.
University of Notre Dame
conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree to Gerrer.
Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
(July 23, 1867August 24, 1946) was a Benedictine Priest at Sacred Heart Abbey
Sacred Heart, Oklahoma
Sacred Heart is a small unincorporated community in Pottawatomie County, Oklahoma, United States. Established in 1879 by Father Isidore Robot as a Catholic mission on the old Pottawatomie reserve, it was originally named Sacred Heart Mission. The name was changed to Sacred Heart in 1888 shortly...
(later, St. Gregory's Abbey
St. Gregory's Abbey (Oklahoma)
St. Gregory's Abbey is a Roman Catholic monastery of the American-Cassinese Congregation of the Benedictine Confederation. The monastery, founded by monks of the French monastery of Notre Dame de la Pierre-qui-Vire in 1876, was originally located in present day Konawa, Oklahoma and called Sacred...
), artist, art historian and museum founder.
Art Career
From 1900 to 1904, Gerrer studied art in Rome. Shortly after the election of Pope Pius XPope Pius X
Pope Saint Pius X , born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the 257th Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 1903 to 1914. He was the first pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. Pius X rejected modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting traditional devotional practices and orthodox...
, Gerrer participated in a competition of artists to paint the official portrait of the new pope. When Pius saw the finished portrait by Gerrer, he selected it to be his portrait. Pius said that he choose it because the artist painted the him true to life and did not minimize his facial warts.
Gerrer also painted portraits of two World War I Choctaw code talkers
Choctaw Code Talkers
Choctaw code talkers were a group of Choctaw Indians from Oklahoma who pioneered the use of Native American languages as military code. Their exploits took place during the waning days of . The government of the Choctaw Nation maintains these men comprised the first code talkers ever to serve in...
, Otis Leader and Joseph Oklahombi.
The largest collection of his paintings are at the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art
Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art
The Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art is an independent, non-profit art museum located in Shawnee, OK. It is affiliated with St. Gregory's Abbey. It is on the campus of St. Gregory's University. The museum works under the belief that art enriches individual lives and enhances the entire community....
in Shawnee, Oklahoma. His work is also in the Vatican
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
art collection, Rome, Snite Museum of Art
Snite Museum of Art
The Snite Museum of Art is a fine art museum on the University of Notre Dame campus, near South Bend, Indiana. It owns over 23,000 works which represent many principal world cultures and periods, with a focus on Western art history...
in South Bend, Indiana, and Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art
The Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art is an art museum on the University of Oklahoma campus in Norman, Oklahoma.-Overview:The University of Oklahoma’s Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art is one of the finest university art museums in the United States. Strengths of the nearly 16,000-object permanent collection...
in Norman, Oklahoma.
Gerrer was a co-founder and first president of the Association of Oklahoma Artists.
Honors
Gerrer was inducted into Oklahoma Hall of FameOklahoma Hall of Fame
The Oklahoma Hall of Fame was established in 1927 by Anna B. Korn. To be eligible for induction, an individual must satisfy the following criteria:* Reside in Oklahoma or be a former resident of the state....
in 1931.
University of Notre Dame
University of Notre Dame
The University of Notre Dame du Lac is a Catholic research university located in Notre Dame, an unincorporated community north of the city of South Bend, in St. Joseph County, Indiana, United States...
conferred an honorary Doctor of Laws degree to Gerrer.