Highlighting the entire Upper Church at Gesu with its magnificent splendor and
clear-cut marble tone is the main altar. The altar has been termed one of the
finest from French Gothic in the United States. The Italian marble altar was
erected to perpetuate the memory of Rev. Stanislaus Lalumiere, S.J., former pastor
of the old St. Gall's church. It was purchased for $35,000, money bequeathed to Gesu
by Mrs. Harriet Cramer.
Almost all of the material necessary for the erection of the altar was quarried and
cut by D. H. McBride & Co. Vanvini, one of Italy's finest artists, was chosen to make
the plans for the new altar a reality. Celebration of the first Mass at the altar was
by Rev. Joseph Milet, S.J., pastor on Thursday, March 22, 1928. The altar was consecrated
at a later date - scheduled to be after the new floor was installed.
The main altar of Gesu is in French Gothic style with a definite
emphasis on the vertical lines rather than the horizontal. In the
carving and decoration of the statues, the artists strove for
naturalism in facial expressions and features.
The original altar as it was installed:
Saints for the main altar include St. Peter, St. Paul, St. Francis
Xavier, St. Ignatius of Loyola, St. Aloysius and St. Alphonsus
Rodriguez, a lay brother. At the lower extremity of the altar on both
sides are two angels; extend upward from the angels to the alcove above are
the statues of St. Peter and St. Paul. Centering the upper
part is an almost life-size representation of our crucified Lord. There was an
ornate tabernacle with a bronze door studded with precious stones and outlined
in gold and silver directly below. The tabernacle was moved to the St. Joseph altar
after Vatican II.
A. C. Eschweiler, Milwaukee architect, went to Italy to supervise the
work of preparing the altar, carried on throughout a period of two
years. According to Carl Eschweiler of the firm which designed the
altar, "A major problem in the erection of the altar was the
fortification of floor under it so that it would withstand the
tremendous increased weight of the marble." Each quantity of the marble
used in the work was especially chosen for color and beauty. The
statues are particularly noted for their fine hands and faces as well
as the Gothic simplicity of all the features.
