Toile imprimée pour broderie de perles (sans perles) – icône « Sainte Alla »

“St. Alla” shows the martyr with one palm raised in prayer. Green beside terracotta gives a calm, balanced colouring.

What the picture shows

The saint is shown nearly full length, frontally. A white-and-blue veil covers her head and shoulders. Her garment is green with a gold cross at the chest; over it lies a terracotta-red mantle falling in broad folds. Her right hand holds a pale cross at her chest, the left is raised with the palm open in a gesture of prayer. Amber bracelets show at her wrists. The halo is gold, outlined with a fine band. The fill is partial: beads cover the figure, the veil, the mantle, the halo, the border and the corner fans, while the cream ground with its printed scrollwork stays on the canvas. A narrow chequered border runs around the field, two amber fans sit above, and a red name plate closes the bottom.

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

• Size of the finished work: 170×230 mm (6.7×9.06 in)
• Beads needed: approx. 5,282
• Bead colours: 16
• Base: natural artist canvas

A vertical format with an expressive gesture at the centre of the composition. Suited to a home icon case or to a name-day icon as a gift. Sixteen colours go mainly into the folds of the mantle, where soft transitions are needed.