GUIDE · DIVINE MERCY AND CHOICE OF MODEL
Before ordering a reproduction of Divine Mercy, identify the precise image: author, version, place of conservation, inscription and reference file. The name of the subject alone is not enough to designate a painting. Nor is it enough to authorize the reproduction of a particular work. It is also not enough to authorize the reproduction of a particular work. Prepare a file that distinguishes the desired model, its details and the conditions under which the project can be carried out.
Distinguish between a shared subject and several paintings
Research on "Merciful Jesus" can show historical works, their copies, modified photographs and more recent compositions. Similar general characteristics do not prove that it is the same painting.
The Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy places the first image, produced under the direction of Sister Faustina, in the workshop of Eugeniusz Kazimirowski in Vilnius in 1934. It then distinguishes the images of Adolf Hyła, including the second composition from Krakow-lagiewniki has been widely reproduced. This distinction helps to name the model rather than choosing from an isolated vignette.
Send the documentary page that accompanies your choice, not just a cropped capture. If you care about a version known in your family or parish, photograph or identify that reference and say why it matters to you.
Avoid asking for "the face of this image with the background of it" without explaining that you are considering an adaptation. Mixing elements can produce a new composition, the feasibility and permissions of which must be studied.
Associate the visual reference with an identification sheet
Keep the page link, the name indicated for the author and the location associated with the work. Also note whether the file represents a photograph of the original, a printed reproduction or a new painted copy. These levels easily merge when images circulate without a caption.
| Information | To note | Why it is useful |
|---|---|---|
| Selected work | Author, title and version indicated by the source | Avoid composition substitution |
| Origin of the file | Source page and visible credit | Find the context of the image |
| Image status | Entire view, crop or modification | Distinguish document and adaptation |
| Terms of Use | Relevant license or authorization | Have the requested use studied |
To compare details, keep a full view and then separate enlargements. Examine the face, hand, folds, feet and presence of the background according to the reference chosen. Do not take a difference in screen rendering as immediate proof of a different version.
If two files appear incompatible, return to the instructions and their origin before choosing. A more attractive color or higher definition is not enough to make a file better identified.
Fix the text and its place in the command
Specify whether the inscription should appear in the painted image, in a margin or on a separate element. Transmit the exact text in the desired language, with accents and punctuation. A small capture where the letters are blurred does not allow you to control their copy.
Also indicate whether you want to maintain the appearance of the model inscription or use a different presentation. A translation or move should not be treated as an implicit detail: it may modify the framing and requires to be included in the study of permitted adaptations.
Request a check of the text before production, then a readable view during validation. The space required for letters depends on the format and composition chosen. The text should not be cut by cropping or hidden by framing.
The illustrations in this article deliberately do not have an inscription. They should therefore not serve as a complete model for faithful reproduction.
Check permission for intended image and usage
In France, article L122-4 of the Intellectual Property Code establishes the principle of the agreement of the author or his beneficiaries for the reproduction of a protected work; it also aims at adaptation and transformation. Application to a project depends in particular on the status of the work and the relevant rules or exceptions.
The religious subject, distribution on the Internet or possession of a small image do not, in themselves, constitute authorization to copy a protected version. Have the author and the status of the exact model verified, without deducing freedom of reproduction from the apparent age of the painting alone.
For the file, also note the credit, the license announced and the conditions accompanying its download. If authorization is necessary, it must cover what you are actually requesting: painted reproduction, possible modifications and, where applicable, intended public uses.
Uncertain authorization must be clarified before initiating the project. If you have a letter or license, provide the elements useful for this verification. This guide does not determine the legal status of a particular version; a case discussed calls for an appropriate examination.
To explore other compositions, also browse the collection of religious paintings. A work of comparison can inspire a presentation, without determining the rights of an external reference.
Confirm a unique reference before production
Gather your choices in a message: link of the identified model, selected file, format, registration and possible changes. Confirm that the quote concerns this reference. A different mood photograph should not replace the agreed model.
When validating, compare the entire composition, then priority details and text. If a reflection hides an area, request another photograph of the canvas. Distinguish a deviation from the reference of a new preference that appeared during production.
Send your reference to Alpha Reproduction to have the project studied. Also consult our guide on the distinction between religious subject and protected modern work.
Frequently asked questions
Is the title "Divine Mercy" enough to command?
No. Attach the precise model and its provenance to avoid confusing a work, a copy and a recent adaptation.
Can a religious work still be protected?
Yes. The subject alone does not determine the status of a particular composition. Have the version and applicable reproduction conditions checked.
Can we change the language of registration?
This request must be specified and examined with the permitted adaptations. Transmit the exact text and have its place confirmed in the composition.
Do the article images identify Kazimirowski or Hyła?
No. They are invented. Use documentary sources to recognize and designate a historical version.
Sources: Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of Mercy - history of images ; Intellectual Property Code, article L122-4, accessed November 4, 2026.
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