The Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi
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".
Prints available in my shop.
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".
Prints available in my shop.