Frederick Franck
Encyclopedia
Frederick Franck was a painter, sculptor, and author of more than 30 books on Buddhism
and other subjects who was known for his interest in human spirituality. He was a native of The Netherlands and became a US citizen in 1945. He was a dental surgeon by trade, and worked with Dr. Albert Schweitzer
in Africa from 1958-1961 .
His sculptures are in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art
, the Whitney Museum of American Art
, the Fogg Art Museum
, the Tokyo National Museum
, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
His major creation, however, was a sculpture garden and park adjacent to his home in Warwick, New York
, which he called Pacem in Terris, or "Peace on Earth." In 1959, Dr. Franck and his wife, Claske Berndes Franck, purchased the 6-acre property, the site of an old grist mill which over the years had become a dumping ground for $800. They opened Pacem in Terris to the public in 1966. Dr. Franck dedicated it to Dr. Albert Schweitzer as well as to Pope John XXIII
and the Buddhist teacher D.T. Suzuki. More than 70 sculptures adorn the property, which is now operated by a nonprofit foundation.
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
and other subjects who was known for his interest in human spirituality. He was a native of The Netherlands and became a US citizen in 1945. He was a dental surgeon by trade, and worked with Dr. Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer OM was a German theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary. He was born in Kaysersberg in the province of Alsace-Lorraine, at that time part of the German Empire...
in Africa from 1958-1961 .
His sculptures are in the collections of the Museum of Modern Art
Museum of Modern Art
The Museum of Modern Art is an art museum in Midtown Manhattan in New York City, on 53rd Street, between Fifth and Sixth Avenues. It has been important in developing and collecting modernist art, and is often identified as the most influential museum of modern art in the world...
, the Whitney Museum of American Art
Whitney Museum of American Art
The Whitney Museum of American Art, often referred to simply as "the Whitney", is an art museum with a focus on 20th- and 21st-century American art. Located at 945 Madison Avenue at 75th Street in New York City, the Whitney's permanent collection contains more than 18,000 works in a wide variety of...
, the Fogg Art Museum
Fogg Art Museum
The Fogg Museum, opened to the public in 1896, is the oldest of Harvard University's art museums. The Fogg joins the Busch-Reisinger Museum and the Arthur M. Sackler Museum as part of the Harvard Art Museums....
, the Tokyo National Museum
Tokyo National Museum
Established 1872, the , or TNM, is the oldest and largest museum in Japan. The museum collects, houses, and preserves a comprehensive collection of art works and archaeological objects of Asia, focusing on Japan. The museum holds over 110,000 objects, which includes 87 Japanese National Treasure...
, and the Cathedral of St. John the Divine.
His major creation, however, was a sculpture garden and park adjacent to his home in Warwick, New York
Warwick, New York
Warwick is a town in Orange County, New York, United States. The population was 30,764 at the 2000 census. The 2007 census population estimate is 32,669.The Town of Warwick is located in the southwest part of the county...
, which he called Pacem in Terris, or "Peace on Earth." In 1959, Dr. Franck and his wife, Claske Berndes Franck, purchased the 6-acre property, the site of an old grist mill which over the years had become a dumping ground for $800. They opened Pacem in Terris to the public in 1966. Dr. Franck dedicated it to Dr. Albert Schweitzer as well as to Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
and the Buddhist teacher D.T. Suzuki. More than 70 sculptures adorn the property, which is now operated by a nonprofit foundation.
External links
- Pacem in Terris website
- An overview about Frederick Frank and his work from SpiritualityandPractice.com's "Remembering Spiritual Masters" Project.
- An interview with some excerpts from his writing.
- over zijn werk en afbeeldingen van de kruisweg en het verhaal van de os Studentenkerk Nijmegen