'Set of Five Studies for Stained Glass' by L’Abbe Maurice Morel (circa 1960s)

'Five Studies for Stained Glass' (circa 1960s), oil on paper, by Abbot Maurice Morel (1908 - 1991). The Abbot Morel was known for his creation of abstract expressionist 'sacred art'. This is a series of five paintings created for a study of church stained glass. Discovered together in the south of France, the colours and composition are exquisite and would be wonderful as a curated arrangement in your home's entry, a hallway or staircase. They would be very suitable in your office as well as a reminder of how your work can be inspiring. Newly framed and glazed and in excellent vintage condition. One of the works signed: 'M Morel'. A short video clip of these works can be provided upon request.

About the Artist: L'Abbe (the Abbot) Maurice Morel (1908 - 1991) championed the cause of contemporary art in the church and made sacred art of his own all through his career, often working in a modernist style. Born in Ornans in the Eastern French region of Franche-Comte, Morel came to Paris in 1927 to pursue his double vocation of artist and priest. He found a mentor in Artist-Poet Max Jacob, a Jewish convert to Catholicism, who was a close friend of Pablo Picasso and other artistic-literary notables of the period. In 1933, Morel helped stage a ground-breaking sacred art exhibition, Art Moderne d’inspiration religieuse, which included works by Picasso, Andre Detain, Tsuguhara Foujita and Georges Rouault, who would become the priest's lifelong friend and supporter.

Morel was ordained in 1934 and joined Stained Glass Artist Jean Bazaine two years later in setting up an art studio as a Christian "presence" in the surrealist art circles of the era. Decorated for his role in the French Resistance in World War II, Morel spent the post war years promoting modernist art both as an essay writer and public speaker. From 1960 onwards, he devoted himself almost exclusively to art-making, claiming it was time to let his art express what he could not say in words. The artist-priest was drawn toward abstract expressionism, believing the most abstract works were also “the most concrete” (sacredartpilgrim.com). 

Dimensions in the order of the images: Framed (Unframed)

Study 1: H 27.5cm/10.8" W 33.8cm/13.3" (H 16.2cm/6.4" W 23.3cm/9.2")

Study 2: H 26cm/10.2" W 26cm/10.2" (H 15.5cm/6.1" W 15cm/5.9")

Study 3: H 30cm/11.8" W 20.5cm/8.1" (H 19cm/7.5" W 10cm/3.9")

Study 4: H 35.5cm/14" W 21cm/8.3" (H 24cm/9.4" W 10.5cm/4.1")

Study 5: H 24cm/9.4" W 31cm/12.2" (H13cm/5.1" W 20cm/7.9")