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Carmen was stationed in Venice, Italy whilst in the Air Force, his love for the city and his dedication to his military duty inspired this piece. He came to me with various images of this majestic creature and this was the final formulation...based mainly upon a representation by Venetian painter Vittore Carpaccio. The image holds much symbolism from mystical to Xtian. It was explained to me, as it relates to Carmen: the lion represents the power and force of the military, one paw on land symbolises the protection of the land itself, one paw in the water shows protection of the sea and the wings show this protection by air. The book, inscribed in Latin, held by the lion, reads: "Peace to you, Mark, my evangelist." St. Mark is the patron saint of Venice and of the symbols of the 4 Cherubim (an Ox, and Eagle, a Man and a Lion) the Lion represents Mark.