“The Shattered Table” signed print.

The Shattered Table. Signed by J Novis Elkins. Available as a high quality Giclee print in 3 sizes.

Notes:

In so much art, Lions are old and regal. They are weathered and worn. The haggered hunter, surveying the land before him. I wanted something different. I wanted to portray this Lion with some vitality and youthful strength. I made him young looking and strong. I gave him an expression of confidence, but almost a smile. Then I considered some passages of Scripture.

“For the joy set before Him, He endured the cross” (Hebrews 12:2).

“He was full of Grace and truth” (John 1:14).

I wanted to capture the pleasure of the Lion in accomplishing the goal of the cross. I wanted a young and powerful lion, not the weathered and exhausted Lion, but a triumphant one.

Then there was the negative space. The Lion stares into the middle distance. Not at the past. Not at the passers by. But somewhere beyond. He looks past the audience and sees what is to come. He looks forward to a future and full redemption!

His paw is atop a globe, the Lion exercises authority over the whole world with his claws resting above the earth.

An allusion to C.S. Lewis: a stone table shattered by the cross. The crack beneath the central cross extending to the cross of the thief on the left but not the one in darkness behind. The law of sin and death has been shattered by the law of the Spirit of life (Rom. 8:2)! Light from the sky highlights the central and left cross, further illustrating the repentant criminal’s reception of grace.

Even the rear cross is not without hope. Look closely, and you will see, above the dark cross is a  sort of lamp-post top – for even in this present darkness, the gospel resounds, beckoning the sinner to repent and trust in the Lord. Behind the darkened cross is an empty tomb.

It is my sincere hope that this piece leads to many conversations about the gospel of Jesus Christ. Let the world see that there is freedom in the cross of Christ and that the Lion of Judah has become our Lamb and has made atonement for sin! Praise God, Trust Jesus, Love well!