Saint Catherine of Siena
The commisison of the large alter pieces for St. Catherine's church in Phoenix Arizona was a series of 4 large images that would decorate the brick niches behind the alter in the church.
The members of the Church had a specific vision for the style of paintings they wanted as well as the subject matter. Successive meetings determined that the four panels would contain St. Catherine, Mary the Blessed Mother, St. John the Baptist and Mary Magdelena.
Roman began work on the series in the Fall of 2007. First he had to construct and form the special curved wooden frames over which to stretch the canvas. These custom frames would later fit perfectly within the architectural niches in the Church.
The dimensions of the paintings are 10 feet tall and 6 and 1/2 feet wide. The medium is acrylic on canvas. Roman used a number of techniques to achieve the intricate color depth - building layer upon layer with brush, rag, and even his hands. The deep shadows and vibrant colors are symbolic of the styles of Ruebens, Caravaggio and Titian.
The dedication and blessing of the paintings took place July 20, 2008. The Church was filled for the Mass and an artist's reception following the service allowed parishioners to speak with Roman and learn more about the art.
The life and vibrancy of the paintings transforms the Sanctuary.
