Virginia Broderick and the Leaflet Missal Company
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Leaflet Missal and the artist Virginia Broderick are forever linked. People are probably most familiar with Virginia’s work from her many contributions as a freelance artist for Leaflet Missal’s publications. She provided paintings and drawings for the company dating as far back as 1953.
Virginia Broderick's Early History
Virginia Broderick was a skilled artist from her childhood. She began formal training at the tender age of 9 years old. She converted to Catholicism at 16 and never looked back. Virginia attended the Catholic Mundelein College in Chicago and finished her studies in art at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Marriage and Partnership
It was said that Virginia would spend just as much time researching the theology for her artistic concepts as she did actually creating a piece of art. In 1941 she met a man who matched her in interest and love of the faith. Virginia married prominent Catholic writer Robert Broderick. She illustrated 14 of his 18 books, most notably “The Catholic Encyclopedia.” They were married for 50 years until his death in 1991.
Illustration and Design for Leaflet Missal Publications
Virginia Broderick’s high-contrast drawings illustrated thousands of missals/missalettes perfectly and are remembered fondly. In an era when full-color printing on interior pages was expensive and not common, this style of art worked well. She custom-made graphics and illustrations for prayer books, chapter books, and even coloring books. You can still see the notes for the printing company and small touch-ups on these handmade pieces. There are hundreds of these drawings in storage at the Leaflet Missal Company.
Many of her oil paintings served as the full-color cover images for countless prayer books. The late owner, Peter Welvang, loved these paintings and acquired several of them which still hang in the hallways of the Leaflet Missal Company to this day.
Virginia Broderick's Legacy
Virginia left a legacy of an artistic style that was both contemporary and faithful. Besides her contributions to the Leaflet Missal company, her work appeared in many bulletins and in the interior decoration of many churches. Virginia Broderick passed away on February 6, 2004. She was still creating artwork at age 86 when the good Lord called her home.
