Illuminated Manuscript digitally painted by Capio Lumen. This painting is available as a limited edition pigmented ink jet print. Each print is numbered, dated and signed by the artist. This Giclée print, French for inkjet, is printed using Epson archival pigmented inks on fine art paper. The print is “light fast” for 100 years when kept under glass and out of direct sunlight. It is available in these four print sizes.
6.5 X 8.5 Unmated: Numbered Edition of 150: Print size 5.5 X 7.0: ($30.00)
11 X 14 Matted: Numbered Edition of 300: Print size 6.75 X 8.5: ($70.00)
16 X 19 Framed: Numbered Edition of 300: Print size 6.25 X 8.0: ($150.00)
24 X 30 Unmated: Numbered Edition of 50: Print size of 21 X 27: ($375.00
- A.P. Artist Proof is 10% of the edition size
Lex Orandi ©2026
English
“Lex orandi,
Lex credendi,
Lex vivendi.”
“The way a people prays shapes what it believes,
And what it believes
Shapes how it lives.”
About this Painting
I read a piece published on Substack, “Symbols of Pride, Symbols of Shame: a Reflection of Our Two Hundred and Fiftieth Year” by Msgr. Arthur Holquin, STL, dated June 13, 2026. In this piece, I first came across the Latin saying, “Lex orandi, lex credendi, lex vivendi.” “The way a people prays shapes what it believes, and what it believes shapes how it lives.” This phrase really struck me in a very simplistic way, good versus bad.
Have we, as a people, as a nation, prayed in such a way as to have evolved into a screwed up, distorted, twisted, immoral, unethical, corrupt from the top down people and nation? Have we come as a people, as a nation, to believe that this negativity is the norm, and therefore to allow it to shape how we live? I sincerely hope not!
I pray for honesty, scruples, ethics, for kindness, for charity, for compassion, for sympathy. With this in mind, I wanted to make a painting using the Latin wording that embraces humility, beauty, and service to others.
Symbolism in this Painting:
A brief explanation of the symbolism in this painting:
The English translation really resonated with me, so much so that I decided to make a painting using the Latin phrase. In the background, I painted black, white, and grey acanthus vines. This vine can spread very aggressively, and it contains spikes. Basically, it is not a charming plant. Stylized acanthus plants have been used as a decorative motif as early as 500 BCE in Grecian art. In ancient Greek architecture, acanthus leaf ornamentation appears extensively in the capital of the Corinthian column. They also were planted as decorative plants around graveyards. Over the top and intertwined with the black and white acanthus, I painted colorful vines that meander throughout the composition and other flowers.
Painted representatives of flowered elements were used as aids to prayer from the earliest illumined manuscripts forward. In this image, I decided to paint a substantial concentration of flowers.
Predominant in the bottom center and on the right-hand side are irises. The iris signifies “message,” as Iris was the messenger of the ancient Greek gods who appeared to mortals as a rainbow. Consequently, the iris represents the power of prayer, and is often seen replacing lilies in Annunciation images. The iris is frequently considered one of the flowers of the Virgin Mary.
There is a white lily on the left edge of the painting. The white lily has attributed qualities of fertility, beauty, and spiritual flowering. It is also symbolic of purity and chastity. The white lily is also considered one of the flowers of Mary.
Pea flower, seen in the middle left and lower right of the painting, represents unity. It is also associated with giving thanks.
The viola tricolor, known as a “pansy,” is painted twice in this image. Because of its fragile structure and its luminous three-colored petals, the pansy is associated with the Holy Trinity, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit.
There are two “Pinks”-carnations and a pink rose. The rose suggests love, beauty, and the perfection of the Virgin Mary. Also, the “Pinks” traditionally convey love.
As in all my recent paintings, including this one, you see in the center of the icon a very faint ancient star map. I use butterflies as symbols for angels. The butterfly is also a symbol for the cycles of life-caterpillar, chrysalis, and finally, the butterfly. There are a bee and a few ladybugs intermixed in this composition. A bee is used because of its industrious habits and as a symbol of activity, diligence, and working for the good of order. The spots of the seven-spot ladybug symbolize Mary’s Seven Joys and Seven Sorrows.
Return and Refund Policy
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