Toile imprimée pour broderie de perles (sans perles) – icône « Saint Athanase »

«St. Athanasius» shows the elderly bishop with a Gospel book. It is the most restrained icon in the batch: violet, ochre and white.

What the picture shows

The bishop stands frontally, holding a large Gospel book before him in both hands — its rich binding is worked in gold, green and turquoise beads with a cross at the centre. He has a long white beard and a high forehead, his gaze calm. The vestments are lilac-violet with soft gradations; over his shoulders lies a broad omophorion in warm ochre with dark crosses set in square panels. An ornamented gold cuff shows on his left arm. The halo is assembled from rings of yellow and gold. The pale olive background with its printed leaf scroll stays free of beads: beading covers the figure, the book, the omophorion, the halo, the side ornament, the corner rosettes and the cartouche below. The coverage is partial. The face and hands stay painted — no beads are laid over them, which is why the image keeps its painterly softness.

What you get

• Natural artist canvas with the full-colour pattern printed on it — no chart to follow on a screen
• Colour key for Czech Preciosa beads
• Beads, needles and thread are chosen separately

Specifications

• Finished size: 170×230 mm (6.7×9.06 in)
• Beads needed: approx. 5,112
• Bead colours: 15
• Base: natural artist canvas

The piece is vertical, meant as a name icon. The Gospel binding and the omophorion pattern need attention, so it suits those who have stitched icons before.