Blog

With the recent change of our name from "J.Lewis Statues" to "Lewis and Lewis"; we hope to make further improvements to our site - 

We aim to concentrate our energies on providing an even better service of custom - made, Church related items for our clients; and continue to provide high quality statue refurbishments.

As demand for our services increase, regrettably we must shortly close our online shop.   In the meantime; "Lewis and Lewis" will continue to provide as usual, all of our  BESPOKE SERVICES...

Our domain name remains the same; so we look forward to visits from all our valued customers. 

(Image right: detail from "All Saints of Lincolnshire Icon by J. Lewis.)

 Here is an image of my sculpt of the Blessed Virgin Mary all painted up and ready to go.  She's 30 inches high - ( that's around 72 cm I think!) She is a good size for carrying in May processions.

My client asked me to make the statue of Our Lady of Grace, as he could not find a statue of this size with good sculptural qualities, or finish here in the U.K.

 We agreed that I should reproduce the statue in limited editions; this would lessen the initial costs of producing the statue for Mr.Hardman, and  it would allow others the opportunity of owning a statue of this quality.

Further information on commissioning religious statuary and art works from Jeanette Lewis, or ordering a copy of this statue is available on request.

See also: "Commissions page" and post "Sculpting the face of Our lady of Grace"

For a long time, the papal shield has been associated with the colours yellow and white;

 but now ..

ZOUNDS! that's Blue!

This looks like a no - nonsense man with clear thinking, who favours simplicity and directness...

but what do I know, I just do pictures!

With all the "whethers, ifs...and maybe's" of what character the pontificate of Pope Francis will assume, I shall sidestep all of that speculation, leaving it to scholars of such matters; and have a look at the visuals instead; (this being an "art" site and all!)

(Here I offer apologies for the rather crumbly representation on the left - but you get the idea!)

The most obvious starting place to look is the design of his Papal shield.

Pope Francis has kept the essential elements of his old coat-of-arms which were chosen at the time of his episcopal consecration.

The blue shield is surmounted by the symbols of the papal dignity,  (miter placed between crossed keys of gold and silver, bound by a red cord).

At the top, stands the emblem of the order of origin of the Pope, the Society of Jesus: a radiant and blazing sun containing the letters, in red, IHS, the monogram of Christ. The letter H is surmounted by a cross; at the foot of the cross are three nails in black.

The symbol of the star symbolizes the Virgin Mary, Mother of Christ and of the Church. The flower of spikenard indicates St. Joseph, patron of the universal Church.

By placing these images in his shield, the Pope wanted to express his particular devotion to the Blessed Virgin and St. Joseph.

The motto of the Holy Father Francis is taken from the Homilies of St. Bede when, commenting on the Gospel story of the calling of St. Matthew, writes: “Vidit ergo lesus publicanum et quia miserando atque eligendo vidit, ait illi: ‘Sequere me’” (“Jesus saw a tax collector and, because with feelings of compassion and choosing him he saw him, he said to him: ‘Follow me.’”)

Overall, the design has a simplicity and directness about it – and contains symbols for Jesus, Mary and Joseph – which for me, also indicates the Holy family; the presence of the Holy Child, within the setting of a Holy Marriage.