This exquisite piece is one of the Loreto Embroideries, a series of breathtaking embroideries from the early 1900s. This is perhaps our favorite of the collection, though they are all beautiful. The original drawings, based on the Litany of Loreto, are likely to be the work of Ezio Anichini, an Italian artist who did much Catholic work. It is not known who did the stitching. They were a gift to an elderly nun, who sent them to the SHCJ Mayfield Convent in Surrey, England, for safekeeping during World War II. They are now held by the Royal School of Needlework in London, regarded as masterpieces of beauty, design, and execution. (Source: CorneliaConnellyLibrary.org)

Original worked mostly in long and short stitch on a rich cream satin background in shades of beige, fawn, and brown silks, as well as white, warmed and enriched with gold threads.

We spent a lot of time restoring this image, removing the flaws from the photograph and lightening it a bit to bring out the richness and contrast of the colors and the precision of the needlework.

If you love this series as we do, you can own 8, 9, 10, or all 11 of them at big savings. Go to this link to find out how:

** IMPORTANT ** THE IMAGE IS SMALLER THAN THE PAPER! There is a white border of about 0.5" inch for 5x7", 1.3" for 8.5x11", or 1.6" for 11x14" pictures. All Approx! Fine art printers do this because the images are almost never the same rectangular ratio of the standard paper sizes. It also gives the prints a finished look, and lets them look good in a frame without a matt.

- Acid-free paper
- Archival pigments, rated to last for generations.
- Cardboard backer
- Above story of the art
- Enclosed in a tight-fitting, crystal clear bag.

Thanks for your interest!
Sue & John

"In order to communicate the message entrusted to her by Christ, the Church needs art." ~ St. Pope John Paul II

Original image is out-of-copyright. Descriptive text and image alterations (hence the whole new image) © by Sue Kouma Johnson - Classic Catholic.