Welcome to Contra Virum Studio, home of fine art dedicated to the sacred and transcendent - to the Good, the True, and the Beautiful. Contra Virum exists to glorify God, His Angels and Saints, His Servants and His Church. Artist William H. Mary Hale is both self-taught and classically trained. He creates devotional art in soft pastels, utilizing the Renaissance-era technique known as Chiaroscuro - an effect of contrasted light and shadow. His work features both stark, moody gray scales and vibrant, expressive colors. William's images are meant to inspire the soul to turn in love and reverence to its Creator.

William Hale creates art suitable for the ancient practice of Visio Divina; that is, using a sacred image as a focus for prayer. It can be combined with Lectio Divina, which is disciplined meditation on a passage of Scripture.

Wholesale pricing is available for gift shops, parishes, vendors and other Catholic retail outlets with no minimum quantity purchase requirements. Please contact us via email or phone for details and wholesale checkout code. All prints are Giclee quality, the industry standard for fine art reproduction, known for its accuracy and museum-quality results. All prints are available in multiple sizes, from small 6x8 desktop or altar prints to large prints intended for a church or cathedral setting, or other sacred space, to facilitate a prayerful practice in any space and to aid in facilitating a multi-sensory experience of worship and contemplation. In addition, all prints are available in several mediums including museum-quality matte photo paper, classic canvas, metal, wood, or repositionable wall murals. Custom framing is available for all mediums. Select prints are also available as coasters and greeting cards.

Each work is prayerfully created for our Catholic family, and the glory and honor of God.