NEEDLEWORK 644 was introduced into England in Elizabeth's reign. The influence of tapestry on such needle- craft may be noted in all-fine examples, such as those to be seen at Hardwicke. A modern example in 'this stitch, about 16 inches by 12 inches, is worth ;^io or ;^I2. Very costly, too, are the old needlework pictures of stamp, or stump, work, which was - much done during the .reign of Chat Its I,;'* though it probably originated in^the reign tffl James 1. £'30, £50, or ;^ioo is often paid for a* picture of this type, or for a small bbx or- cabinet decorated on the outside with it. Its chief characteristic is that it is in high rehef, and the effect is often of grotesque ugliness. Stuffing and padding is freely used. Curtains, draperies, etc., are sometimes made so that they draw aside. The background is flat, and the rounded hmbs of the figures, the heads and legs of animals, and other ornaments, stand out. Such materials as pearls, beads, glass, mica, lace, damask, and all varieties of stitches are used to obtain realistic effects. Such subjects as the j visit of the Queen of Sheba to King Solomon, and various scenes in the life of the Royal House of Stuart, are portrayed. The costume in such scenes is frequently of a mixed character, various epochs being freely drawn upon in the same picture. The revival of such work, which is a travesty on sculpture, is not desirable, nor No. 3. A sea study in monochrome on brownish canvas No. 2. Study of a peasant knitting. Another example of how coloured linens can be utilised is it likely to be successful, for the minute care and detail, the laborious elaboration of every object alone gives interest to picture work. Moreover, it is freakish rather than artistic, even in its finest examples. But there are many less arduous ways of making needlework pictures than that of setting in thousands of stitches on canvas and obtaining a tapestry effect. Perhaps the quickest method of all is the darning of various materials in wool or silk after a slight colour-wash has been laid on to serve as a backgroun'd, and also as a guide to the worker with the lieedle. Either a browiaish linen is used, or a matlasse of dull-suVface wool or silk thread is then = darned into th,e fabric, so that landscape, foliage, figures, and sky can all be depicted in softly toned hues ; and varying results, from the most impressionist to the realistic, can be obtained at the will of the worker, guided by a colour scheme laid on as a pattern. The mingling of brushwork and needle- Work in one example is perfectly sound, and strictly in accordance with old precedent in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries, when English church needlework was famous throughout Europe. The Pope himself sent for opus Anglicanum — pictures of saints being treated in this way. The very beautiful example of the Virgin and Cliild illustrated is worked on satin. The flesh is painted in M^ater-colour ; the halos, in pale blue silk, show up well against the olive-green rayed background. The blue of the mother's mantle is of the lovely bright i
