Embroidery - 43.5 cm - 30 cm - Ancient devotional embroidery - Immaculate Conception

Devotional embroidery depicting the Immaculate Conception, executed on a silk ground with mixed technique: the figure and drapery rendered in “needlepainting” (needlepainting) with shaded silk threads, clouds and details of the dragon/snake in metallic gold/silver thread applied with couching. Crown of twelve stars in metal leaf applied. Classical post-Tridentine iconography, likely convent manufacture.

Condition: visible stains on the silk ground, natural oxidation of the metallic thread and of the applied stars, consistent with the piece’s age — not restored, not cleaned. Evidence of woodworm holes in the frame and one on the canvas. Mounted on an original tensioned loom, visible on the back, enclosed in a later non-original frame.

Provenance: unproven — stylistic attribution based on comparison with similar embroidered works dated 1720–1780, French/continental Italian area.

Dimensions: 34 x 43.5 cm (with frame)