17th-century embroidered masterpiece being acquired by Amiens

8/2/24 - Acquisition (in progress) - Amiens, Musée de Picardie - There are sometimes - often - acquisition projects that La Tribune de l’Art can only endorse, and invite its esteemed readers to do likewise: the exceptional antependium embroidered at the end of the 17th-century by the sisters of the Ursulines convent, which the Musée de Picardie intends to bring back to Amiens at last, is undeniably one of them, so much so that it is a masterpiece of French textile art, as well as an oustanding piece of the town’s history. The beauty and richness of the composition (ill. 1) shine through at first glance, and certainly impressed guests at the annual gala dinner of the Friends of the Amiens Museums, who were able to preview this treasure last Friday, shortly before the launch of the operation de financement participatif hosted on the kisskissbank platform. Open to individuals until March 17, the initial goal is to raise €15,000, for which donations are, as usual, tax-exempt.

1. Amiens, Ursuline convent
Antependium, c. 1660-1680
All embroidery techniques (except bare gold) flat and in relief (metallic threads, canetille, verroterie, pearls...) in wool and silk threads, on a linen canvas (?) sewn onto a hemp canvas (?), itself attached by seeds around its perimeter to a wooden frame - 95 x 293 cm
Currently being acquired by Musée de Picardie, Amiens
Photo: Irwin Leullier

See the image in its page

Supported by the City of Amiens, the operation also constitutes a genuine heritage safeguard, since the aim is to bring back to its place of creation this treasure embroidered by nuns, which was undoubtedly kept in their convent until the disastrous expulsion of the congregations that accompanied the separation of Church and State : the antependium was still found in the Picardy capital until 1891. It then moved to Belgium, following the Ursulines into exile, but was certainly quickly sold and passed through several private collections until its…