Ian Gualtiere ’27 and Tom Marinelli ’26

by Ian Gualtiere ’27 and Tom Marinelli ’26 on November 13, 2025

Recently placed in the Ruane Center for the Humanities 105, three wonderfully large and impressive paintings will dominate the wall of the lecture room for the rest of the fall semester. In an attempt to respond to a long and celebrated tradition of Italian art, mingled with a heavy influence of Christian iconography, artist Bruce Herman’s ambitious piece on the story of the Blessed Virgin Mary is presented in bold colors along with an extreme reverence for the subject matter. Herman has stated that, “Tradition is the substrate of every thought, every feeling, every work of art—whether acknowledged or not. Our very ability to communicate at all is contingent on tradition.” 

Imbued with the knowledge and respect for both Italian Renaissance art and Christian teachings, Herman explores three important stages of the Blessed Virgin before even giving birth to Jesus Christ. The series is meant to be viewed from right to left, the same as Hebrew is read. Lifted directly from the Gospel of Luke is the Annunciation, where the angel Gabriel announces to the Blessed Virgin Mary that she will conceive and give birth to the Son of God. The middle scene, adorned with gold coloring to show the all-encompassing glory of the Lord, is the Incarnation, where the Word of God became flesh through conception. Though it is not directly stated in the Gospels, this is usually celebrated on March 25 (nine months before Christmas). The third scene is the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin to her cousin Elizabeth, also with child, who would later become John the Baptist, and where the famous lines of “Blessed art thou among women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb” (Luke 1:42) are spoken. With a twinge of modern boldness and traditional reverence, Herman expertly creates a triptych of three of the most consequential events in Christianity.  

These three paintings, passed by all the Development of Western Civilization students, fit perfectly in the large classroom. To me, they almost look like a dreamscape, or a fresco, something from an old, but not forgotten, world. The colors in particular are vibrant: blues, yellows, and white mountains in the back. It’s not a traditional piece whatsoever, but that only adds to its appeal. This Friday, Nov. 14, at 3:30 p.m., you and your friends can see it in Ruane 105, where the Humanities Department will host Herman to share insights on his work and answer any questions. At a school like Providence College, where the humanities are arguably valued as much as any other discipline, it’s always nice to have active engagement from scholars and artists alike who are willing to present to students.

Herman’s visit is a great opportunity to witness a dialogue between faith, tradition, and creativity—the cornerstone of Providence College. Whether you’re an art enthusiast, a theology student, or simply someone who’s genuinely curious, this forum will be right up your alley, and everyone is encouraged to attend. Again, that’s Friday, Nov. 14, at 3:30 p.m. in Ruane 105, so don’t miss it!