English Charles II Stumpwork Needlework Picture, 1650

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17th century charles ii english stumpwork needlework picture c.1650.

a wonderfully atmospheric and increasingly rare mid-17th century english stumpwork and … Read more 17th century charles ii english stumpwork needlework picture c.1650.

a wonderfully atmospheric and increasingly rare mid-17th century english stumpwork and needlework picture, circa 1650–1660, worked in coloured silk threads upon a pale silk ground. The composition centres upon a finely dressed lady and gentleman surrounded by a wonderfully eccentric profusion of oversized flowers, flowering branches, birds, butterflies, caterpillars, beetles, snails and other insects and creatures. Worked using a combination of finely stitched and raised elements, the deliberately differing scales of the figures, flora and fauna give the piece the wonderfully naïve charm for which english stuart needlework is so admired. Raised work, subsequently known as stumpwork, reached particular popularity in england during the 17th century and was frequently undertaken by highly accomplished young women from prosperous households as part of their needlework education. Designs drew upon biblical, allegorical, classical and courtly subjects, surrounded by fantastical arrangements of flowers, animals, birds and insects; separately worked and padded elements were employed to create the distinctive three-dimensional effect. The imagery seen here is particularly characteristic of the period, with closely comparable charles ii needlework pictures incorporating figures amongst disproportionately large flowers, insects, animals and birds documented in important museum and private collections. The needlework survives with considerable age-related fading, discolouration and losses, resulting in the beautifully muted palette now visible and giving the work tremendous untouched decorative character. It is housed behind glass within an old carved gilt and silvered gesso frame, itself showing extensive historic rubbing, flaking, losses and exposed underlying gesso consistent with considerable age. Rather than detracting, this wonderfully distressed surface complements the ancient textile exceptionally well, creating a highly evocative piece of 17th-century english textile art with over three and a half centuries of genuine character and patina.

dimensions height: 56cm width: 60cm depth: 4cm See less