Sorcery: Contested Realm’s upcoming Gothic set invites players into a world of shadowed woods and whispered horrors. But not all is darkness. Even in Gothic, there are moments of radiance and hope, however small and fleeting.
We've been having a blast giving a glimpse into the mechanics behind Gothic, and today, we’re honored to take a look at some of the set's art with the reveal of Virgin in Prayer, the latest painting by Sorcery artist Lindsey Crummett.
Virgin in Prayer
Like every piece of art in Sorcery, it all begins with a prompt from Sorcery Founder and Creative Director, Erik Olofsson.
“The prompt was that it was to be much like the famous painting of the same name,” Lindsey explains, referencing the Italian painter Sassoferrato, “but also have a magical effect coming from the hands clasped in prayer.”
Sassoferrato painted more than one version of the Virgin, one looking downward, the other gazing to the heavens. Lindsey considered both before settling on the expression that she felt captured the tone of Gothic.
“I tried to capture a serenity in her expression, a gentle softness in how she holds her hands together, and maybe a little melancholy since (as we see in Gothic) there is a lot of darkness in the world.”
That contrast, light amid the looming darkness, provided a welcome reprieve from the darker characters she painted in the set. “It was lovely,” Lindsey shares, “I love character pieces, and this seemed a good opportunity for it. I loved the subtlety as opposed to some of the hit-your-over-the-head evil characters I've done,”
Plus, it allowed her to recruit a friend to serve as a reference photo. After staging an elaborate photo shoot with her friend as the model, the resulting reference images helped her capture not just the spirit of the piece, but the intricate textures and lighting that bring Virgin in Prayer to life.
“I draped cloth over her in just the right way, and moved the lighting around to get the shapes I wanted…she did a great job doing what I asked of her!”
Light or Darkness? Why not Both?
While Lindsey’s range within Sorcery stretches from the brooding to the beautiful, she can’t really pick a favorite, especially in a set like Gothic.
“It’s really difficult to choose, I feel like it’s different aspects of my own personality!” she says. “I’ve always loved villains - when I was 5 years old, I memorised Darkness’s monologue from the 1985 fantasy film, Legend…Much like Darkness says in the film, ‘What is light, without Dark? … I am a part of you all.’ I have to agree with him! We all have the capacity for both, so I honestly love playing with both.”
It’s a perspective that resonates deeply in Gothic, a set defined by contrast, where even the purest light feels more vivid when cast against the shadow of Evil.
Meet Lindsey at Pax Australia
This October, Lindsey will travel to Melbourne for PAX Australia, where she will showcase original art from Gothic at the Sorcery booth, part of a collaboration with our friends at All Interactive Distribution (AIE).
Join us for learn-to-play demos, card signings, and an unforgettable celebration of traditional fantasy art. Whether you’re a seasoned Sorcerer or just discovering the Realm, we can’t wait to see you at PAX!
Tickets for PAX Australia can be purchased here
Find more at Lindsey Crummett's artist page
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