Brother Eric

from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Eric de Saussure ( Brother Eric , born December 23, 1925 in Geneva , † October 17, 2007 in Taizé ) was a French artist and member of the Taizé Community . In addition to his watercolors, oil paintings and sculptures, he is known for numerous lead glass windows designed by him , among others. a. in France, Germany, Switzerland and the USA. He is also the author of children's books.

Cross icon designed by Brother Eric de Saussure in the Church of Reconciliation in Taizé

Life

Eric de Saussure was born on December 23, 1925 in Geneva as the son of Jean de Saussure (1899–1977). His father was a Reformed theologian and president of the Compagnie des Pasteurs of the Reformed Church in Geneva , who publicly denounced the deportation of Jews to Nazi Germany during the Second World War.

Eric de Saussure studied art in Paris from 1946 at the École des Beaux-Arts and Florence at the Accademia delle Belle Arti . In his hometown of Geneva , he met the student group around Brother Roger , who founded the Taizé Community during the war . In 1949 he joined the community as the 10th brother. He lived not only in Taizé but also in the fraternities of the fraternity, in Algeria in the early 1950s, and in Hells's Kitchen in New York in the 1970s and 1980s .

Frère Éric died after a brief illness on October 17, 2007 in Taizé. He was buried in the village cemetery there.

Stained glass window by Frère Éric de Saussure: The Three Kings
Frère Eric's grave in the old village church in Taizé

Artistic work (selection)

His oil and watercolor paintings, his etchings and glass work have shaped the aesthetics of the Taizé Community. His cycle of windows on the south side of the Reconciliation Church in Taizé , which symbolizes the Christian festivals, is particularly well-known . The icon of the cross and the icon of Mary in Taizé also go back to him. In addition to spiritual motifs, he also dealt with landscape painting and abstract, monochrome depictions.

  • Illustrations for a children's Bible, 1968, ISBN 3780601435 ,
  • Window on the south side of the Church of Reconciliation in Taizé
  • "Abraham and Isaac" window in the lower church in Taizé
  • 5 windows for the choir of the Paulskirche in Strasbourg : "Genesis", "Kings and Prophets" (a black angel playing saxophone can be seen on them), "Christ", "The Church", "The Apocalypse" (1946)
  • "Transfiguration of Christ" window in the Kreuzkirche in Dresden
  • Black Madonna "Vierge Noire"
  • "Danse jaune"
  • "The Sorcerer's Apprentice"
  • "Enfant avec Avions"
  • "David et Goliath"
  • "Psalm 137"
  • "Tour de Babel"
  • "Operation Casbah"
  • "Operation Bidonville"
  • "La Faim"
  • Redesign of the Saint-Nicolas-de-Myre church in Monaco
  • "Eblouissement d'Amour"
  • Triptych "The Life of Jesus" (one of his last great works)

Literary work

  • Eric de Saussure: "La Poule dans le pick-up" (German: The chicken in the pick-up), Taizé 1959
  • Picture Bible, text by Friedrich Hoffmann, pictures by Eric de Saussure, 1968, ISBN 3780601435
  • Trilogy:
  • Eric de Saussure: "Professor Rhododendron and his secret", Zurich 1983, ISBN 3545280217 (German translation of the English original: "The Secret of Hell's kitchen", Seabury Press 1980, ISBN 9780816404605 )
  • Eric de Saussure: "Les Oiseaux d'Irlenuit" (German: "The birds of Irlenuit"), Paris 1987, ISBN 2070333965
  • Eric de Saussure: "La grande bataille de Central Park" (German: "The great battle in Central Park"), Paris 1992, ISBN 2070567095
  • Eric de Saussure: "Im Reich der Hyporaten", Hildesheim 1989 (German radio play adaptation of "Professor Rhododendron and his secret", see above)
  • Eric de Saussure: “La haute demeure, un récit inspiré du 'Château intérieur' de sainte Thérèse d'Avila” (Eng .: The last place to stay; a story inspired by Theresa von Ávila's “Inner Castle”), Taizé 1991, ISBN 9782712204099

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ Toni Cetta: Jean de Saussure. In: Historical Lexicon of Switzerland . July 6, 2011 , accessed December 16, 2018 .
  2. ^ Saussure, Eric de | Vitrosearch. Retrieved December 16, 2018 .
personal data
SURNAME Brother Eric
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Saussure, Eric de
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Swiss artist
DATE OF BIRTH December 23, 1925
PLACE OF BIRTH Geneva
DATE OF DEATH October 17, 2007
Place of death Taizé (Saône-et-Loire)