Embroidered Picture (England), late 17th century

Small embroidered picture depicting the story of Judith and Holofernes, worked almost entirely in knot stitches on white silk using colored silks and metallic threads. Judith, holding a sword in one hand and the head of Holofernes in the other, is about to drop the head into a sack which her attendant holds out. The body of Holofernes is seen just behind her, inside a tent. In the background are an encampment of tents, the walls and towers of a settlement, and mountains. Judith is dressed in a mantle and pointed headdress. The attendant is dressed in simpler costume of buff skirt and blue overdress with a scarf and headdress. The faces are worked in knot stitch and only details of eyebrows, lips and hair are in satin stitch.