Tour Detail

The interior of the Main Building is replete with various paintings from the legendary Luigi Gregori, including murals of Christopher Columbus and a famous painting on the interior of the dome. The Main Building is a common attraction on football weekends, when the trumpet section of the band plays the alma mater and fight song in the building's rotunda.

Luigi Gregori, formerly a portrait artist at the Vatican, was sent in 1874 by Pope Pius IX to Notre Dame, where he spent 21 years coloring the walls of the campus’ buildings with beautiful imagery, including works for the Basilica of the Sacred Heart, Main Building, and Washington Hall. In 1880, following the construction of the new Main Building, Sorin commissioned Gregori to produce the art for the first floor of the Main Building. Gregori painted 12 murals depicting the life of Christopher Columbus, still on display today. At the time, Columbus was venerated both as an American hero and a Catholic hero.

From 1886-1890, Gregori painted the ceiling on the interior of the dome. This painting depicts a representation of Religion in the center, surrounded by Philosophy, History, Science, Fame, Music, and Poetry. Gregori used bowls from the university's kitchen to practice painting on a curved surface.

Some evidence exists that Gregori intended to paint murals of other Catholic leaders of the Americas in the Main Building. Though he never executed this work, it suggests that he desired to emphasize the influence of Catholicism in the Western world and the founding of America.

Today, all of Gregori's works are still present in the Main Building.

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The Rosary Crown, on display on the North end of the main floor, consists of 15 decades of crystal beads and 15 plates to depict the mysteries of the rosary. This crown was intended to be placed on the statue of Mary atop the dome. Instead, it was placed on a different statue of Mary in Sacred Heart Church where it was stolen. It was later recovered and repaired.