A CHARLES II SILK-EMBROIDERED NEEDLEWORK PICTURE

CIRCA 1660

Details

A CHARLES II SILK-EMBROIDERED NEEDLEWORK PICTURE
circa 1660
Depicting stories from the Life of Joseph with Joseph shown at the center before the Pharaoh beneath a canopy with the initials 'KP', on a ground strewn with birds and flowers, with a lion and leopard, the upper left corner with Joseph in prison interpreting the dream of feast and famine, and to the right resisting the charms of Potiphar's wife, worked in raised work, metal purl, and long stitch, and with silver spangles, coral and glass beads with seed pearls and mica on a white satin ground, within a modern black and gold molded frame
26½in. (42cm.) high, 20½in. (52cm.) wide overall

Provenance

Ruth Troiani, Farmington, Connecticut, 1984

Lot Essay

The subject of Joseph fleeing from the amorous attentions of the wife of his employer Potiphar is taken from prints published by Gerard de Jode, Thesaurus Sacrarum Historiarum Veteris Testamenti, Antwerp, 1585 and Bernard Solomon, Quadrins Historiques de la Bible, Lyons, 1555. Other embroideries depicting this subject include one in the Lady Lever Art Gallery, Port Sunlight (illustrated in X.Brooke, Catalogue of Embroideries, 1992, p.20) and two tent-stitch pictures in the Burrell Collection, Glascow Museum (illustrated in L.Arthur, Embroidery 1600-1700 at the Burrell Collection, 1995, p.27, fig.10 for one).