In the centuries before the invention of the printing press, scribes would labor for years, or even decades, hand writing Bibles, prayer books, and religious texts. The margins of these books were often decorated with fabulously colored motifs and enhanced with gold leaf. The knowledge they contained, along with their stunning beauty, made them extremely valuable items that were treasured by those lucky enough to own them.
As a lover of history I wanted to create my own illuminated masterpiece as a nod to these beautiful works of the past. For the subject I choose the Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi. The text begins with a stunning capital "L" written in the Cadeaux style that I designed specifically for this piece. These ornate letters originated in France in the early 1400s and were often used as the introduction to important documents. Flowing outward from the "L" are scrolling acanthus vines with striking blue flowers. I designed the border based loosely on a liturgical manuscript from 1435 and a German prayer book from the 1450's. The text is written in my version of Secretary Hand. This script was popular in Europe from the thirteenth to seventeenth centuries. Embossed 24k gold leaf on the “L” and flowers complete the design and give it an eye catching shine.
The prayer reads:
Lord, make me an instrument of Your peace.
Where there is hatred let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light;
And where there is sadness, joy.
O Divine Master, grant that I may
not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
To be loved as to love.
For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
And it's in dying that we are born to eternal life.
Amen
Written on 140lb Arches watercolor paper and painted with hand-ground gouache.
Original artwork measures 10"x20".
You may choose the print either with or without hand gilded 24k gold leaf.
***Gilding is a delicate and time consuming process. Depending on my schedule, gilding can add extra processing time. I will let you know if there are any unexpected delays***
***UNLESS OTHERWISE REQUESTED*** All my prints are printed with an extra 1/2" border for easy matting and handling. Leave a note at checkout if you do not want this border.
I try my best to accurately represent the color of all my work. However, due to individual screen settings your actual print may appear a few shades lighter or darker than your computer monitor.
See a miniature version of this print here:
https://www.etsy.com/listing/518807330/prayer-of-st-francis-of-assisi-religious?ref=shop_home_active_39&frs=1
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When it comes to the world of art reproduction not all prints are created equal. You truly do get what you pay for. Here is what you get when you order a print from my shop.
The Company
I do all my printing through a professional print company that specializes in giclee fine art reproductions; in fact it is all they do.
What is a Giclee Print?
Giclee is a special blend of science and art that is perfectly suited for delicate printing jobs where color accuracy and attention to detail are crucial. Prints are usually produced one at a time, as the process is painstakingly slow. Compare this to other printing styles such as lithography, which are mass-produced on high-speed presses.
The inks
The inks are archival grade and fade resistant. The advanced color management technology used in the print process allows for a large color range so that every print has vibrant true-to-life colors. (Sometimes they even look nicer than the originals!) With the proper care your print will stay bright and beautiful for generations.
The Paper
Giclee printers are able to handle thicker papers buy than traditional printers. This ability opens up a wide variety of lovely papers to choose from such as heavy weight watercolor paper, or even canvas. The paper I have chosen for most of my works is a nice balance of quality and affordability. It is an acid free, archival quality, heavy weight (230 g, 9.5-mil) paper with a smooth matte surface.
***Most of my art is completely customizable. Convo me if you are interested in having a print made on a different type of paper***
Product code: Prayer of St Francis buy of Assisi, Religious Wall Art, Giclee Gilded Print