The Prince Of Peace

1954 Clarence Thorpe Found Devotional

“And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.”
                                                                          Isaiah 9:6

One found piece. One beautiful name of Christ. One reminder that our peace is found in Him.

There was something peaceful about this image from the moment I found it the face of Jesus, His eyes lifted upward, surrounded by light.

But when I carefully looked behind the frame, this piece began to tell us more of its story.

Printed on the reverse of the artwork are the words:

“THE PRINCE OF PEACE”
by Clarence Thorpe
© 1954

A Piece of Christian History

Clarence Edgar Thorpe was more than an artist. He became an ordained minister in 1945 and, throughout the 1950s, traveled to churches and youth gatherings across the United States, using his art as part of his ministry. An archival photograph from 1953 even documents Reverend Thorpe illustrating a likeness of Christ while using his artwork in sermons.

The Prince of Peace became one of his best known devotional images, with a biographical source on Christian art reporting that more than one million prints were sold.

And its title carries an even older story the prophecy of Isaiah pointing toward Christ:

Wonderful Counselor. Mighty God. Everlasting Father. Prince of Peace.

Even the Back Has a Story

Behind the artwork is an unexpected piece of history: an old green cardboard panel marked “Lingerie by Kel Ray.”

Kel Ray was an American lingerie company active during this period. U.S. copyright records document Kel Ray Knitting Mills advertising in 1950, and a surviving 1950 advertisement identifies the company at 148 Madison Avenue, New York City.

At some point, someone appears to have repurposed this ordinary piece of packaging as backing for the framed image.

We don't know who did it or when and I don't want to invent the history we don't know.

But I love that detail.

Something ordinary was used to preserve an image pointing to Someone extraordinary.

Found Again

The exact history of this particular framed piece and its previous owner are unknown. The artwork bears a 1954 copyright date, while the age of this particular printing and framing cannot be established with certainty.

Its aged frame, original style wire, worn backing, marks and imperfections have been preserved as part of the piece rather than hidden.

And now it is ready for another home a prayer room, quiet corner, bedroom, office, or anywhere that could use this simple reminder:

He is the Prince of Peace.

Quantity: ONE. The piece photographed is the exact piece you will receive.