Faithful to the Jasna Góra image
This image is recognised by its details, so we simplify none of them: the dark complexion, the two parallel scars on the right cheek, the cut on the neck, the veil with fleurs-de-lis, the six stars around the head and the Child with the book. We prepare the drawing at 1:1 and show it to the parish before any laying begins, so that the proportions of the face follow the original rather than an interpretation.
Gold ground, crowns and robe
We carry the ground in gold, because light in a church comes from the side and from above: gold returns it at different angles, so the image lives through the day instead of sitting there as a flat patch. The crowns, the pearls and the jewels of the robe are set in separate tones, tessera by tessera – the slowest part of the work, and the part that separates a mosaic from a print.
The face is laid by hand
The studio photographs show how the face comes about: several dozen shades go into it, the tesserae are cut by hand and run along the features, with separate tones for half-shadows, lips and eyes. The scars follow the original, in a single line, neither painted nor glued on top.
A date or an inscription in mosaic
If the image is to mark an anniversary, a parish jubilee or a coronation, we lay the date and the text together with the composition, from the same material – as in the photograph, where the years are set into the lower corner. Such an inscription does not fall off and does not fade, because it is part of the mosaic rather than something fixed on top of it.
Price and process
A mosaic costs 4 000 to 15 000 PLN per m². The price depends on the size, on the number of details in the crowns and the robe, and on the materials. The work covers measurement or photographs with dimensions, a drawing agreed with the parish, hand execution in the studio, transport and installation. The estimate is free.
Frequently asked questions
Do you reproduce the original from Jasna Góra?
Yes. We work from a drawing prepared after the Jasna Góra image, at 1:1, and agree it with the parish before laying starts. The scars, the fall of the veil, the stars and the Child with the book stay as they are in the original.
Are the crowns and the robe also in mosaic?
Yes. The crowns, pearls, jewels and the ornament of the robe are set in tesserae, in several dozen shades. Nothing is glued or painted on top, so the surface keeps one texture and needs no renewal.
Is the image suitable for a facade?
Yes. Outdoors we use frost- and UV-resistant materials and mortars intended for elevations, so the colours do not fade and neither rain nor snow troubles the mosaic.
What size should we choose?
We settle that individually. The size depends on the building, the height at which the work hangs, the distance it is seen from and whether the mosaic goes outside or indoors. We advise once we have photographs of the place and the dimensions of the wall.
Can a date or an inscription be added?
Yes. A jubilee date, the parish dedication or an inscription is laid in mosaic together with the image, from the same material as the ground.
How long does it take?
It depends on the size, the complexity and the place; outdoor installation also depends on the season. We give the date with the estimate, once we have the dimensions and photographs of the place.