Needlework Tapestry In Gros Point – Mystic Marriage Of Saint Catherine, 19th Century

Needlework Tapestry in Gros Point – Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine, 19th Century

Polychrome wool embroidery in gros point on canvas.
Sight dimensions: 93 × 64 cm (36.6 × 25.2 in).
European workshop, probably French. 19th century.

Large needlework tapestry depicting the Mystic Marriage of Saint Catherine of Alexandria. The Virgin, seated with the Christ Child, presents the wedding ring to the kneeling saint, while the composition is accompanied by other saints and set within a classical architectural framework. The scene is based on an Italian iconographic model that was widely disseminated through engravings between the late 16th and 17th centuries and was later adapted for needlework on canvas.

The panel is worked in polychrome wool using the gros point technique on canvas. In France, this type of work is traditionally known as tapisserie à l’aiguille (needlework tapestry) and belongs to a long-established decorative and devotional tradition, particularly associated with the Aubusson region, where comparable canvas embroideries employing various needlework stitches were produced. In the absence of inscriptions, workshop marks or documentary evidence, however, a direct attribution to Aubusson cannot be stated with certainty.

The panel stands out for the quality of its workmanship and its rich, well-preserved colour palette. It remains in good overall condition, with light wear and a few localized losses consistent with its age.

Sight dimensions: 93 × 64 cm (36.6 × 25.2 in).