Preview
Photographer
Not certain, but most likely Rev. Anthony J. Eiardi, S.J., based on the fact that he sent these photographs in 1956 in his letters to Arthur Shurcliff
Date
1956
Description
This photograph shows the replica of Mount Fujiyama, a feature of the Japanese Garden at Bellarmine Hall designed in 1926 by landscape architect Arthur Shutleff (aka Shurcliff). The south pond bridge is no longer there, and the hollow for the meditation pool, now dry, is in the lower left. The pergola on the right is no longer extant and would be today obscured by shrubbery. The mound of Mount Fuji also has been worn down and is less prominent. The real Mount Fujiyama in Japan is approximately 12,290 feet above sea level and is revered as a sacred mountain.
Notes
In May and June of 1956, Rev. Anthony J. Eiardi, S.J. sent letters to landscape architect Shurcliff asking for his recollections regarding the Japanese Gardens he designed 30 years earlier for the Lashar residence. Eiardi apparently did not send any pictures of Mount Fuji in his first letters, which prompted Shurcliff to ask in his letter of November 1st, 1956 to Eiardi, ‚ÄùRegarding the volcano, I wonder if it still exists. It had a flue running through the center so that a small fire, especially of damp material, would issue smoke, as sometimes happened with Fuji. The bare rocks on the top were symbolized by similar small pieces of native stone. The upland vegetation near the summit was indicated by Stonecrops. Of all the parts of the garden I suppose this Fuji must have been the most perishing because of its exceeding small scale and perhaps the danger of fire creeping from the little fire box beneath.‚Äù Eiardi must have replied with a letter and more photographs. On December 24‚Äùth 1956, Shurcliff wrote back to Eiardi: "Thank you for the photographs you enclose, which reassure me that Fuji is still holding its own‚ I am delighted that Fuji merited the exclamation of the student who has seen the original." Image date is approximate.
Publisher
Fairfield University
Collection
Image Archive
Original Format
Photographic print; black-and-white; 8 x 10 in.
Digitization Date
2007
Repository
Fairfield University Archives and Special Collections
Copyright
© Fairfield University Archives and Special Collections. This resource may be used for educational or non-commercial purposes. Please direct any questions to digital@fairfield.edu.
Repository Citation
Not certain, but most likely Rev. Anthony J. Eiardi, S.J., based on the fact that he sent these photographs in 1956 in his letters to Arthur Shurcliff. "Japanese Garden looking west-northwest toward the replica of Mount Fujiyama." 1956. Image Archive. Fairfield University Archives and Special Collections. https://digitalcommons.fairfield.edu/image-archive/128.