New! Saint Thecla – Sarah Paxton Ball Dodson – Catholic Art Print – Archival Quality

This serene painting shows a holy soul, St. Thecla, bearing the palm of martyrdom, her face radiating the peace of Christ as she goes to her fate. But Thecla did not die, according to the ancient, apocryphal book, “Acts of Paul and Thecla.” She was cast to the lions and poisonous snakes, but miraculously, the animals did not hurt her, and she lived. According to the text, she then went on to assist St. Paul in his ministry. She had converted when she'd heard a sermon by Paul, and her family and former fiancé had condemned her.

St. Thecla of Iconium is a Saint in both the Catholic and Orthodox churches, the latter calling her a “protomartyr and model for women.” The book, though it has a romantic fiction feel to it, was widely circulated among the early church. It inspired St. Eugenia of Rome to a holiness for which she was martyred. Although the book is not canon, Thecla herself is a real Saint. (source: newadvent.org)

Sarah Paxton Ball Dodson (1847-1906) was born in Philadelphia and was taught art by her father, an engraver. She went to Paris to study, and she had a long career of portraiture and religious art. This is one of her most famous paintings, done in 1891. It is owned by the Smithsonian, who tie this painting in thematically with Dodson’s own life: “This idea of a young, confident girl following her own path regardless of other people’s expectations evokes Dodson’s own life, as she struggled to establish herself as a professional painter.” 29 1⁄2 x 21 1⁄2 in. Oil on canvas. Une Martyre (Sainte Thechla).

** IMPORTANT ** THE IMAGE IS SMALLER THAN THE PAPER! There is a blank border around the image. Approximately 0.5" wide for 5x7, 1.3" for 8.5x11, 1.6" for 11x14, and 1.75" for 13x17 and 16x20. For the two poster sizes, 18x24 and 24x36, we use 0.5" borders. We do this because the ratio of the rectangle of the art almost never matches the rectangle of the paper, and if it did happen to match one size, it would not match the others. Most fine art printers do this because otherwise they’d have to crop the art or warp it to make it fit the paper. The border looks good. It gives the picture a faux matted appearance.

There is almost always a little more border either on the left-right sides, or the top-bottom, depending on whether the ratio of the art is wider or taller than the paper.

We make Archival Quality fine art prints:

– Acid-free paper

– Archival pigments

– Cardboard backer for sizes 11x14 and less.

– Above story of the art

– Enclosed in a tight-fitting, crystal-clear bag.

– Rated to last 200+ years without fading if kept dry and out of the direct sun.

Thanks for your interest!

+JMJ+

Sue & John Johnson

Lincoln, Nebraska

“In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art.” ~ St. Pope John Paul II

Original image is out-of-copyright. Descriptive text and any image alterations (hence the whole new image) © by Sue Kouma Johnson – Classic Catholic Art.