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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.