James Purefoy — Portrait Sitting (Rory Lewis Photographer London 2019)
Actor James Purefoy is a magnetic presence on both stage and screen. From crossing swords with Heath Ledger in A Knight’s Tale to leading the dark, psychological tension of Fox’s The Following, Purefoy’s career spans an extraordinary range of film, television, and theatre—placing him firmly among the most versatile British actors of his generation.
I was delighted when James accepted my invitation to sit for a portrait in my London Studio on 8th October 2018. As always, I prepared extensively, revisiting his body of work—Solomon Kane remaining a personal favourite. During the session, he shared a fascinating detail from earlier in his career: his contracts once included a clause that allowed him to keep his character’s sword after filming. His collection is enviable, including the blade of Solomon Kane and a six-foot broadsword from the medieval epic Ironclad.
James Purefoy — Portrait Sitting (Rory Lewis Photographer London 2019)
James Purefoy — Portrait Sitting (Rory Lewis Photographer London 2019)
A deep influence of Renaissance and Italian Baroque portraiture underpins my work—borrowing from the atmospheric tenebrism of Caravaggio, the drama of Ribera, and the tonal richness of Titian and Rembrandt. This sensibility is central to my fine-art series Selah, a project rooted in the meditative, contemplative reverence found in Counter-Reformation painting.
James expressed admiration for my portraits of Sir Patrick Stewart and welcomed the opportunity to be photographed in a similar chiaroscuro style. The Hebrew word Selah, appearing throughout the Psalms, is widely interpreted as a moment to pause, breathe, and reflect. This sense of stillness and introspection lies at the heart of the series.
Before we arrived at the final images, James and I explored a spectrum of expressions—from stoic heroes to darker, more formidable characters. Eventually, he moved into a quieter emotional space, offering a series of contemplative, almost saint-like poses that perfectly embodied the spirit of Selah.
The sitting lasted just over an hour, yielding a portfolio of striking, spontaneous portraits that capture both the intensity and the rare inner stillness of one of Britain’s most compelling actors.
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My portrait session with Andy Serkis is one of the latest additions to my ongoing project Selah. The series draws on the mood and dramatic lighting of the Old Masters, especially the tenebrism of Caravaggio and Ribera. For Andy’s sitting, I wanted to create a moment of quiet reflection—something raw, intimate, and rooted in a sense of personal pilgrimage.