Anon. Biblical Scene with Archangel Raphael

An original 18th-century silkwork embroidery, Biblical Scene with Archangel Raphael.

This beautiful and curious silk and chenille needlework embroidery depicts what appears to be a biblical scene with Archangel Raphael, the angel of healing. Archangel Raphael is also known as the patron of travellers, and is sometimes depicted in Christian iconography as a traveller in courtly garb with staff. Here we see Raphael, represented by the male in ermine and angel standing to the left, leading the female figure away from a demon or 'death'—lurking murkily to the right—towards the celestial light.

In Christianity, Raphael is generally associated with an unnamed angel mentioned in the Gospel of John, who stirs the water at the healing pool of Bethesda—the figures here possibly positioned on water, represented by the smooth horizontal satin stitch area to the foreground. The silkwork also uses silk chenille, in many places raised stumpwork, often favoured for for working grass and moss on the ground or adding clumps of foliage to trees.

The faces, hands and arms of the figures are additionally added in delicately cut and painted paper, pasted over the silkwork. The faces of the male and female figures are later additions, likely from the late 19th century, which have been cut from a half tone print and then painted in watercolour. The resulting effect is one of curious historical montage, which befits the blurring of eras within the image itself, in which biblical subject is conflated with Renaissance style dress.