Did you ever wonder where
Religio, the relief between the first and second floors on the 84th Street stairwell, comes from or when it was installed? A bit of research in the Regis archives has provided some interesting background information on this unique work of art.
According to an archived document,
Religio was commissioned at the time of the construction of Regis High School. A firm named Rochette & Parzini, Molders was tasked with creating the piece to fit within the architectural structure of Regis High School.
The photo below, a copy of an image found in the Bostion Public Library, is the earliest recorded photo of the bas-relief. It depicts a not-quite completed design prior to the Fall 1914 opening of Regis. The photograph was found among the Boston Public Library's collection of papers from Maginnis & Walsh, the architects who designed the Regis High School building. Stamps on the back of the photograph (also shown below) confirms the firms Rochette & Parzini, Molders and Maginnis & Walsh as having been involved in its creation.
A more detailed overview of the bas-relief can be found in Anthony Andreassi C.O's
Teach Me To Be Generous: The First Century of Regis High School in New York City. Below is a short excerpt from the book that describes some of the meaning behind the piece.