Ella Condie Lamb: The Sage Chapel Mosaic Mural, Cornell University

"The Sciences," mosaic at Sage Chapel, Cornell University
by Ella Condie Lamb

"The beautiful mosaic mural in the Sage Chapel of Cornell University, designed by Charles and Ella Lamb and executed by the Studios, is an example of harmonious collaboration and of an understanding of the desires of the times for philosophical rather than religious figures in a public building, even a chapel. Charles consulted with the President of the University as to the dominant idea of the mosaic mural to be erected in the chapel apse to the memory of the late Henry Williams Sage, and his wife, Susan Lana Sage.

The result of these conferences was a reservation of the lower part of the apse for the quesiton of 'Education' - and of the upper portion of the ceiling for the idea of 'Religion.'The lower wall surface suggested as its best treatment a processional. In this the subject of the 'Sciences' and the 'Arts' are placed north and south, and 'Philosophy' in the center, the extremem figures being those of 'Young Manhood' and 'Young Womanhood,' suggesting the cause of coeducation which Cornell leads.

As Ella designed and drew the figures she realized that they would be viewed from below. Therefore the heads are rendered somewhat smaller than they otherwise might be because they are further from the viewer than the lower part of the body, as if a real figure was in fact above the viewer. The same realization is indicated in the pastel study head of Music. Clearly one is looking at this face from a position slightly below it. Many of the figures she had to draw for public buildings would be placed above the heads of her viewers, therefore she had to use this perspective often."

To be continued

(Excerpts from "Ella's Certain Window" by Barea Lamb Seeley.)