Seeking an Artist for The Lutheran Missal
Apply
If you are a passionate artist with a love for religious art and a fervor for our Lutheran heritage, we would love to hear from you. Please email us to submit your portfolio, a rough bid for the project, and a brief note about your background and artistic qualifications no later than October 31st. Ideally, your portfolio will include a crucifix so we can see how you portray the human form.
Qualifications
The artist will be responsible for creating stunning and intricate designs that enhance the beauty and spiritual significance of The Lutheran Missal. Artistic talent, attention to detail, and understanding of religious iconography will be essential in this role.
Design
Crest and website header
The namesake of our publishing house is Mattheus Ludecus (1527–1606), a Lutheran theologian who served as dean of the cathedral of Havelberg. His 1589 missal, published in both Latin and German, strikes an ideal balance in preserving the Western Catholic liturgical tradition while remaining faithful to the pure evangelical doctrine of the Lutheran Reformation. The crest for Ludecus Press will most likely contain elements of the Ludecus family crest. The first two pictures below are Mattheus Ludecus' own crest and seal. The third picture is the Lüdecke (Ludecus) coat of arms.
Full-page detailed miniatures
The missal will contain several full-page miniatures for the chief occasions of the church year (see below). Pictured are examples of the Crucifixion from three different missals:
Full-page miniatures will be required for the following occasions:
- a frontispiece
- Crucifix on page facing the consecration
- Nativity
- Epiphany
- Easter
- Ascension
- Pentecost
- Trinity
- Palm Sunday
- Maundy Thursday
- Good Friday
- Corpus Christi
- Annunciation
Historiated letters for special occasions
Special occasions may begin with a historiated letter, usually depicting the theme of the Gospel text. The examples below from the canon of the mass (excised by Lutherans for obvious reasons) are nevertheless excellent representations of a historiated letter. They depict the "T" of "Te igitur" as the Sacrifice of Isaac, the Crucifixion, and (presumably) Mount Calvary.
Historiated letters will be required for the following occasions:
- Advent 1 — Ad Te Levavi
- Vigil of Nativity
- Nativity (Midnight)
- Nativity (Dawn)
- Nativity (Day)
- St. Stephen
- St. John
- Holy Innocents
- Christmas 1
- Circumcision
- Vigil of Epiphany
- Epiphany
- Octave of Epiphany
- Transfiguration
- Septuagesima
- Ash Wednesday
- Lent 1 — Invocavit
- Palm Sunday
- Maunday Thursday
- Good Friday
- Easter Vigil
- Easter (Day)
- Easter 1 — Quasimodo Geniti
- Ascension
- Pentecost
- Trinity
- Corpus Christ
- Last Sunday after Trinity
- St. Andrew
- St. Thomas
- Conversion of St. Paul
- Purification of Mary
- Confession of St. Peter
- St. Matthias
- Annunciation
- St. Mark
- Ss. Philip and James
- Invention of the Holy Cross
- Nativity of St. John the Baptist (Day)
- Presentation of the Augsburg Confession
- Ss. Peter and Paul
- Visitation
- St. Mary Magdalene
- St. James
- St. Lawrence
- Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- St. Bartholomew
- Decollation of St. John the Baptist
- Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
- Exaltation of the Holy Cross
- St. Matthew
- St. Michael
- St. Luke
- Ss. Simon and Jude
- All Saints
Decorated alphabet
Each paragraph within a given occasion will begin with a decorated letter, usually two or three rows tall. A single decorated alphabet can be used throughout the missal. This alphabet will need to be unique, elegant, and reverent while also pairing well with the normative text in the missal: Garamond Premier.
Salzburg Missal (c. 1478–1494)
The 15th century Salzburg Missal is considered one of the most splendid and elaborate missals of the Middle Ages, showcasing the high artistic standards of the late Gothic period. The following examples are from the Feast of the Epiphany: a full-page detailed miniature, and a historiated letter "E" on the subsequent folio that depicts the same three wise men being warned in a dream not to return to Herod.
Flyer
If you are not an artist, please help us spread the word by sharing this flyer (PNG or PDF) anywhere you can.
