File:Needlework as art (1886) (14595505768).jpg

Identifier: needleworkasart00alfo (find matches)
Title: Needlework as art
Year: 1886 (1880s)
Authors: Alford, Marianne Margaret Compton Cust, Viscountess, 1817-1888
Subjects: Embroidery Needlework
Publisher: London, S. Low, Marston, Searle, and Rivington
Contributing Library: Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute Library
Digitizing Sponsor: Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute Library

View Book Page: Book Viewer
About This Book: Catalog Entry
View All Images: All Images From Book
Click here to view book online to see this illustration in context in a browseable online version of this book.

Text Appearing Before Image:
en, embroidered, and painted.2 Reptiles and insects are included under the head of beasts, and perhaps fishes also. Each was doweredwith a symbolical meaning ; and thus admitted into art,they were conventionalized by being strongly outlined,coloured flat; and by repetition without variation, wereconverted into patterns. When the use of heraldic illustration was added to thealready accepted symbolism, animal decoration becamevery common, and soon forgot its symbolical motives,which were succeeded by Renaissance fanciful patterns;and then the conventionalized beast and its symbolism 1 In India, the elephant is a very common element in a pattern ; inEgypt, the serpent; in Persia, the lion. In animal patterns, certainemblems were grouped together. The lion and the goose representstrength and prudence ; the lion and eagle, strength and dominion ; thelion and dove, strength and gentleness. We may see these doubleemblems on Sicilian textiles. 2 Chinese art is crowded with symbolisms. PI. 2S.
Text Appearing After Image:
Page 107. Patterns. 107 disappeared from European decoration, except when itwas a direct copy of an Oriental design. Certain symbolical forms have, however, survived. Theeagle has always meant empire, and the double-headedeagle, a double royalty.1 Ezekiel represents Babylonand Egypt, symbolically, as two eagles.2 But herewe approach the subject of heraldry, which became ascience in mediaeval days ; and every man and womanin any way remarkable, every chivalrous action andnational event, became a subject for textile art, and waswoven or worked with the needle on banner, hanging,or dress. The altar decorations received a new stimulusas historical records, as well as religious symbols, andpride and piety were equally enlisted in these gifts to theChurch. Byzantine patterns have a barbaric stamp, and yethave much of the grandiose about them ; but they areto the last degree conventional. In the early mosaics,both in Constantinople and Rome, every face and head,every flower and animal, repre

Note About Images