St Paul on the Road to Damascus

Embroidered Picture
1650-1700 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

Object Type
Embroidery was widely used in the 17th century for the decoration of religious and domestic objects. High-quality pieces like this were commissioned from professional workshops, sometimes for display in private chapels. Other pieces with religious subjects were embroidered by amateur needlewomen for display within the home.

Materials & Making
This embroidery was probably made in a professional workshop in London, though it might have come from Flanders (Belgium). Fine work such as this was carried out in England by members of the Broderers' Company. The Company had been granted its charter for the organisation of professional work in 1561 and had the power of controlling the quality of embroideries sold to the public.

Subject Depicted
This scene shows Saint Paul on the road to Damascus. The story, in which Saint Paul converted to Christianity, is told in the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament. Scenes from the Bible were extremely popular as subjects for embroidered pictures in the 17th century, but the great majority were taken from the Old rather than the New Testament.

Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleSt Paul on the Road to Damascus (popular title)
Materials and techniques
Satin ground embroidered in silk, with painted details
Brief description
Embroidered picture in silks showing 'St Paul on the road to Damascus', probably embroidered in London, 1650-1700
Physical description
Embroidered picture showing St Paul on the road to Damascus. Satin ground embroidered in silks, and with some painted details.
Dimensions
  • Height: 50cm
  • Width: 54.5cm
Dimensions checked: Measured; 12/11/1998 by nh
Gallery label
(27/03/2003)
British Galleries:
THE CONVERSION OF SAINT PAUL: an embroidery and its printed source

Before the embroiderer of this panel (top) began work, the design was drawn onto the silk by a specialist, professional pattern drawer. He took his design directly from the print but modified it. He raised the horizon, adding buildings and plants, and changed the positions of the figures in relation to one another. The embroiderer further adapted the print by choosing the colours to be used.
Credit line
Bequeathed by Dorothy Hilton
Object history
Registered File number 1988/338.
Subjects depicted
Summary
Object Type
Embroidery was widely used in the 17th century for the decoration of religious and domestic objects. High-quality pieces like this were commissioned from professional workshops, sometimes for display in private chapels. Other pieces with religious subjects were embroidered by amateur needlewomen for display within the home.

Materials & Making
This embroidery was probably made in a professional workshop in London, though it might have come from Flanders (Belgium). Fine work such as this was carried out in England by members of the Broderers' Company. The Company had been granted its charter for the organisation of professional work in 1561 and had the power of controlling the quality of embroideries sold to the public.

Subject Depicted
This scene shows Saint Paul on the road to Damascus. The story, in which Saint Paul converted to Christianity, is told in the Acts of the Apostles in the New Testament. Scenes from the Bible were extremely popular as subjects for embroidered pictures in the 17th century, but the great majority were taken from the Old rather than the New Testament.
Collection
Accession number
T.60-1988

About this object record

Explore the Collections contains over a million catalogue records, and over half a million images. It is a working database that includes information compiled over the life of the museum. Some of our records may contain offensive and discriminatory language, or reflect outdated ideas, practice and analysis. We are committed to addressing these issues, and to review and update our records accordingly.

You can write to us to suggest improvements to the record.

Suggest feedback

Record createdMarch 27, 2003
Record URL
Download as: JSONIIIF Manifest