Carved as a concept cover for my binding submission for the Uppercase magazine’s binding project for Print/Maker, this woodcut is an original design for Saint Augustine of Hippo, the patron saint of printmakers.

The design centers around the image of Saint Augustine of Hippo in ornate Bishop’s vestment, an African saint and Doctor of the Church who was converted later in life and is heralded as an early Christian theologian and philosopher. The latin phrase ‘da mihi castitatem et continentiam, sed noli modo’ which translates to ‘give me chastity and continence, but not yet’ is taken from “Confessions.” An autobiography and one of his best known works, he details his sinfulness as a young man and his later conversion and struggle to maintain his morality and chastity, acknowledging the duality of man. He is the patron saint of printers, brewers, and theologians and his feast day is observed on August 28th.

Icons that are attributed to him include a flaming heart pierced by an arrow, a quill from which lightening (divine inspiration) flows, a book, a maquette, and an ornate crossier.

A signed and numbered limited edition of 100 prints was pulled from the woodcut front cover printed in black offset lithography ink. The block measures 9.25” x 6.75”. The image was printed on half sheets of a handmade cotton/hemp Chancery paper produced by my MFA alma mater The University of Iowa Center for the Book at the Oakdale Research and Production Paper Facility.

This is a paper size and production style that I assisted in researching with Tim Barrett and fellow hand papermaking scholars as part of a historic practical research project into the materials and production techniques of handmade paper. You can learn more about this research project here and here (featuring yours truly). Each print measures approximately 9” x 12.5” and has three original decked edges and contains one of two watermarks from the original sheet, either a “2019” or UICB” in the lower right hand corner of the print. The block will be struck and permanently laced onto the book.

All images are C. 2021 Mary Louise Sullivan and may not be reproduced without explicit written permission from the artist. Sale of the art does not grant rights to the image

*Please note that due to the nature and texture of handmade paper and the process of printing by hand, there may be slight variations in ink coverage and paper size. Every effort has been made to represent the print as accurately as possible in this listing.