Begin with the figure and the place
A statue is experienced in relation to its surroundings: a garden path, a chapel, an architectural niche or a place where someone can pause. A new commission begins by understanding the subject and the intended setting together. You do not need a completed drawing before contacting Lanzini & Sons.
Tell Jeffrey which figure or devotional subject you have in mind, where the work will stand and the approximate scale if known. Photographs of the setting are useful. Visual references can help explain a pose, expression or detail you care about without having to settle every design decision at the outset. For a church commission, the church should support pursuing the project.
A bronze Mary for Holy Spirit Parish
At Holy Spirit Parish in San Jose, the commission was a new bronze sculpture of Mary seated at one end of a bench, with an open seat beside her. We designed the sculpture and installed it in its outdoor setting. The figure, the bench and the space alongside Mary belong to the same composition.
The project photographs show the finished work from several viewpoints. They offer a concrete example of a new commission; a different subject or location will bring its own questions about proportion, expression and material.
Considering material and scale
We work with bronze, marble, other stone, wood, plaster and concrete. Resin is considered for some projects. The size of the figure, its intended setting and the character of the work all belong in the material discussion. Photographs and approximate dimensions help establish how the statue will relate to the space around it.
A private commission is welcome as well as a church or institutional project. Describe the intended location and what you hope the piece will express. If your inquiry is about an existing statue rather than a new work, the statuary and Stations page brings together restoration examples and guidance on documenting damage.
What to share in your first email
- The subject and intended location, including city and state.
- Photographs of the niche, room, garden or other setting.
- Approximate dimensions and visual references, if available.
- The people involved in reviewing a church or institutional commission.
An early idea is enough to begin. Discuss a custom statue with Jeffrey, or explore related bronze, stone and material work.