The Battle of Lepanto

I’ve just completed the painting “The Battle of Lepanto” the high quality prints (both paper and canvas) of which are now available for viewing and purchasing on my store site:
tonystafki.imagekind.com

This great naval battle took place on October 7, 1571 and was won by Our Lady’s intercession. The victory saved Catholic Europe from being overrun by the Muslim Turks.

Details of this painting include:

- The battle formation of the ships just before the main clash. The Catholic ships form a cross and the Muslim ships form a cresent.

- The standard of the Holy Cross which was blessed by Pope Pius V can be seen on Don Juan of Austria’s ship which is leading the charge

- Papal ships (St. Peter’s keys)

- The miracle of the wind: just before the armies met the wind completely switched in favor of the Catholic ships.

- Devils can be seen amongst the Muslim ships (they were summoned from hell by the Muslim leader). The devils have peacock feathers as swords, a manifestation of their pride.

- Our Lady of Victory with a sword in one hand ready to crush the devils and the other hand outstretched to the Muslim souls.

- St. Michael leading the Angels

- There are small white lights by the oars on the Muslim ships representing the souls of the Catholic prisoners.