The Spiritual Landscapes of Dominique de Menil

摘要

Dominique de Menil (1908-1998) with her husband, Jean, amassed one of the finest collections of ancient and modern art in the United States. Rivaling the Frick Collection in New York City, their acquisitions are housed in a museum in midtown Houston; through their largesse, the Rothko Chapel for interfaith dialogue and a Byzantine Chapel stand nearby. Philanthropists, they supported the civil rights movement at home and peace initiatives abroad. They were committed to enrich Catholicism through theological inquiry and the arts. After Jean died, Dominique's willingness to listen to her inner voice prompted many contributions. The spiritual biography of Mrs. de Menil requires a theoretical lens not provided by existing constructs of spiritual development over the life course. Here, I deploy the metaphor of “landscapes” to illuminate critical moments in her spiritual growth, especially during her later years.