Jacques Marquette
Father Jacques Marquette S.J. (June 1, 1637 – May 18, 1675), sometimes known as Père Marquette or James (Jim) Marquette, was a French Jesuit missionary who founded Michigan's first European settlement, Sault Ste. Marie, and later founded St. Ignace, Michigan. In 1673 Father Marquette and Louis Jolliet were the first Europeans to explore and map the northern portion of the Mississippi River.
Biography
Jacques Marquette was born in Laon, France, on June 1, 1637 and joined the Society of Jesus at age 17. After he worked and taught in France for several years, the Jesuits assigned him to New France in 1666 as a missionary to the indigenous peoples of the Americas. He showed great proficiency in learning the local languages, especially Huron. In 1668 Father Marquette was moved by his superiors to missions farther up the St. Lawrence River in the western Great Lakes region. He helped found missions at Sault Ste. Marie in present-day Michigan in 1668, St. Ignace in 1671, and at La Pointe, on Lake Superior near the present-day city of Ashland, Wisconsin. At La Pointe he encountered members of the Illinois tribes, who told him about the important trading route of the Mississippi River. They invited him to teach their people, whose settlements were mostly further south. Because of wars between the Hurons at La Pointe and the neighboring Lakota people, Father Marquette left the mission and went to the Straits of Mackinac; he informed his superiors about the rumored river and requested permission to explore it.
Jacques Marquette (sculpture)
Jacques Marquette is a public art work by artist Ronald Knepper. It is located on the campus of Marquette University west of downtown Milwaukee, Wisconsin.
Description
Jacques Marquette depicts a bearded, long-haired Marquette dressed in a belted robe. His long cassock cloak trails behind him. In one hand, he holds a map. A crucifix is visible at his belt. The base of the sculpture looks like a jagged rock.
Location
The sculpture is installed in the central interior area of the campus, just east of the St. Joan of Arc Chapel.
Commissioning process
Knepper was commissioned to create the work in May 2004. Funding for the commission was donated by John Madden, an alumnus and member of Marquette's board of trustees, and his wife Mary.Curtis L. Carter, then director of the campus Patrick and Beatrice Haggerty Museum of Art, managed the commission.
References
Coordinates: 43°02′12″N 87°55′49″W / 43.036764°N 87.930236°W / 43.036764; -87.930236
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