caption

Frances Horner, Ruth

Photo courtesy of Dave Penman (All Rights Reserved)

Details

Country House
Mells Manor
Title(s)
Ruth
Date
c.1878
Medium and support
Embroidery
Dimensions
Overall height: 39 cm, Overall width: 23.5 cm
Artist
Frances Horner (1854-1940)
Catalogue Number
MM72

Description

As with Angel carrying Roses (MM72), this embroidery was a collaborative effort between the young Frances Graham and Edward Burne-Jones, with the latter drawing the figure on stretched cloth and the former embroidering over his markings. Burne-Jones completed the composition by carefully colouring in the more delicate features of the face. The subject of this embroidery is taken from the Book of Ruth in the Old Testament. Following the death of her husband, Ruth remains to care for her mother-in-law, Naomi: Ruth stands in a field of wheat leaning against a staff. In Christian hagiography Ruth is a symbol of abiding loyalty and devotion, dutifully setting out daily to glean grain from the field.

by Devon Cox

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