La Rose On The Primary Purpose of Heraldry

The seal and arms of then Trinity Washington College located in Washington, DC.  The college is now a university.  The seal and arms were designed by la Rose in 1935.  Image is from Trinity Washington University Archives, Record Group 15.3 Art and Music, folder la Rose, seal/coat of arms, 1935.

Earlier this week, I received some letters from the archives of Trinity Washington University in which Pierre de Chaignon la Rose (1872-1941) writes to the "Reverend Sister Superior" regarding his designs for new arms for the college.  Click here for some background information on la Rose.  According to the university's website, "founded in 1897 as Trinity College in Washington, D.C. by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, Trinity was the nation’s first Catholic liberal arts college for women."  Thus, we know that this Reverend Sister Superior hails from the Congregation of Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur.  

Image is from Trinity Washington University Archives, Record Group 15.3 Art and Music, folder la Rose, seal/coat of arms, 1935

The seal is classically la Rose.  The matrix contains gothic tracery, the simple and well-proportioned shield is set within a quatrefoil, the lettering is rendered in Lombardic, and the name of the corporation in Latin, Sigillum Collegii Trinitatis Washingtoniae.  I translate this to be "Seal of the College of Trinity Washington."  I remain in awe of la Rose's exacting hand, as all of this was rendered without computers--truly la Rose had the gift.  Click here to read my analysis of several of la Rose's seals.

My blazon for these arms is:  Gules, on a triangle inverted and void of the field an open book with three clasps all or inscribed SCIENTA ANCILLA FIDEI ("knowledge the handmaid of faith"), on a chief azure three stars argent.

One quick funny aside.  In my correspondence with another institutional archives, the archivist remarked that while they had several of la Rose's handwritten letters in their collection, those letters resembled "medieval manuscripts!"  Yes, la Rose's penmanship can be insufferable to transcribe.  

La Rose's handwritten letter to the Revered Sister Superior at Trinity Washington College, 10 February 1935.  From Trinity Washington University Archives, Record Group 15.3 Art and Music, folder la Rose, seal/coat of arms, 1935

Here is one quotation that stood out for me, and I probably spent 15 minutes trying to transcribe this from his handwriting:

“The sole purpose of heraldry it should be remembered, is to identify its owner, nothing more.  And good heraldry always endeavors to do this in the simplest forms possible—bearing out the old heraldic maxim: simplicitas formae antiquitatis nota” (La Rose letter to Reverend Sister Superior, February 10, 1935). 

The maxim that la Rose cites is taken from John Guillim's (c.1565-1621) landmark work, A Display of Heraldry, published in the early 17th Century.  I simply translate this to mean, keep your designs and forms within heraldry simple and straightforward.    

The unmistakable signature.

La Rose would follow this canon in every design that he produced during his long heraldic career.  Perhaps this is why so many of his coats are still in use today.

Works Cited

La Rose, Pierre de C. (1935 February 10).  Letter from Pierre de Chaignon la Rose to the Reverend Sister Superior of Trinity Washington College.  Unpublished letter.