The colors. That's what drew us to this image. All the delicate colors. Love is not drab. St. Valentine, known in the secular world as the emblem of romantic love, would send messages to his beloved from jail telling her about a deeper love, the Love of God. In this picture he is shown in his joyful vestments. A Roman building is behind him, showing the setting of his times. The ax, the instrument of his martyrdom, is before him. The clouds are heavy and dark. The cherub angel is drawing near, holding the laurel palm, the symbol of martyrs. From Heaven streams the glory of God's grace.

God is the source of grace. He is also the source of all love. This is what Valentine, a Roman doctor and Catholic priest in the 3rd Century, sent messages about. According to legend, he was sending them to a woman named Julia, and it is said he wrote her tiny little messages of the love of God on the petals of flowers, bruising them with a pin. He always signed them, "Your Valentine."

This was especially important for his times, which were pagan and promiscuous, and hostile to marriage under the Emperor Claudius II. People of his day began calling messages to loved ones "Valentines," as we still do today. St. Valentine was an example of faithful, pure love, which is what everyone wants deep down.

Valentine was martyred February 14, 270 A.D. for the crime of being Christian and presiding over Christian marriages. He could have lived if he would have renounced his Christian faith and made an offering to the cult of the Emperor, but he was faithful to God. It is said that Julia herself planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave. Valentine is indeed the patron Saint of romantic love, as well as engaged couples and marriages. Surprisingly, he is also invoked for beekeeping. (source: History.com)

We looked for years to find a Valentine print that we were especially fond of. We are the only printers we know of who offer this image. The colors are light and charming. Give it to your dear one as a Valentine of your faithful love.

(source: uni-heidelberg.de) Original panel was printed and partly gilded on gesso.
– 8.5 x 11" acid-free paper
– Archival pigments, rated to last for generations.
– Cardboard backer
– Above story of the art
– Enclosed in a tight-fitting, crystal clear bag.

** IMPORTANT ** There is about an inch-and-a-third of white space around the picture, so the image is smaller than the paper.

Thanks!
Sue & John