Precious Eighteenth Century French Convent Embroidery Panel Our Lady of Mercy

A breathtaking handmade stitched work, using hundreds of very fine silk embroidery stitches, it was made by sisters within a Spanish convent towards 1750. It is framed in a vintage wood frame under glass. This type of hand embroidered work was popular in Italy, France and Spain in the late 18th century. Made in honor and devotion to a particular Saint or the Virgin Mary, they were lavishly embellished with passementerie (ribbons, sequins, beads which were taken from "cast off" clothing which was donated to the convents by local noble women. These works were individually designed and often included painted facial detailing (as in this work). There is a dedication at the bottom, "Nuestra Sa De La Mercedx" (Our Lady of Mercy). Nuestra Señora de las Mercedes (Our Lady of Mercy), Barcelona, Spain.

The history of The Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy is as follows: In early August of 1218, St. Peter Nolasco, St. Raymund of Penafort, and James, King of Aragon, each had a vision of the Virgin Mary asking them to found a religious order devoted to freeing Christian captives from the Muslims, who still held much of Spain. The Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy grew quickly, collecting alms for ransom and sometimes offering themselves in exchange for prisoners. The statue of the Mother of God of Mercy in Barcelona (right) dates from the 1300s. She became the city's patron saint after saving it from a plague of locusts in 1687.

Her appearance is described as" "She is dressed all in white: over her long tunic she wears a scapular with the shield of the order imprinted breast high. A cloak covers her shoulders and her long hair is veiled by a fine lace mantilla. Some images have her standing, with the child in her arms, or carrying two bags of coins for use in ransoming Christians imprisoned by Moors. In yet others he is shown with her arms extended showing a royal scepter in her right hand and in the left some open chains, a symbol of liberation".

The embroidered depiction of Mary is absolutely breathtaking. One a background of fine creme colored silk, she stands on a rising cloud which is worked with many fine lengthwise silk stitches. The cloud rests on a pedestal made of tiny crochet (tricochet) chains. Her robe continues the silk thread stitching of the cloud; this stitching is so very thick and luxurious it imparts a raised, thick texture to her robes. Fine crimped brass trip outlines the robe and her mantel. Her crown consists of tiny crochet chains, metal sequins and tiny bits of painted mica (mica was used during the early to mid 18th century for ornamenting books, boxes and embroidery).

Her face and hands are hand painted, the artist was very talented as they are depicted with a beautiful level of realism. Mary has a benevolent expression. Her waving brown hair falls around her shoulders. Her fingers are delicately painted; with long expressive fingers. She holds a broken chain in her left hand and two sacks (one adorned with a sacred heart) in her right.

There is a floral festoon canopy surrounding her is worked in heavy silk thread embroidery in shades of sage green, crimson, peach, sand, yellow and forest green. Two columns support the floral festoon. They are worked in metallic gilt thread, hand sewn gilt sequins, strips of hand sewn brass and tiny floral sequins.

The visible embroidered work (to inner edge of frame) measures 12 1/4" tall, 8 1/4" wide. Mary measures 7" tall. There is a (19th century) glass over the textile and it is placed in a late 19th century gilded wood/plaster frame. The textile is in very good antique condition for the extreme age; fraying to background silk (you can see the back board of the frame to the right side of the cloud through the frayed threads. Spotting to silk. The embroidery is intact as is the vast majority of ornamental passementerie (missing sequins on columns and canopy). Please study the photos as they are the best description.

It is a rare and spectacular religious textile, depicting a rich religious history in an incredible hand worked textile form.