Mater Intemerata –8.5x11" – Mother Undefiled – Loreto Embroideries

The Litany of Loreto dates back to the Middle Ages and now includes over 50 titles of Mary. They are recited liturgically as call-and-response: One person calls out the title, the others respond with “Pray for us.” The prayers are normally said in the native tongue. Mother Undefiled means that, unlike us, Satan never got his hooks in her.

In 1912, Italian artist Ezio Anichini released his illustrations of the 46 titles that were in use at the time. His style is Art Noveau, or Stile Liberty in Italian. Of those 46, an anonymous person, possibly a Catholic nun, made 12 or 13 into needlework. They were a gift to a Catholic nun in England, but she did not record their provenance.

The embroiderer faithfully recreated Anichini’s precise yet romantic, emotionally engaging images. They also brought color, which enriches them. Both the art and the needlework are considered masterpieces.

We spent a lot of time restoring this image, removing the flaws from the photographs and lightening it a bit to bring out the richness and contrast of the colors and the precision of the needlework. We look forward to the time when the Royal School of Needlework, who hold and preserve these masterpieces, release perfect photographs of them to a grateful world. Until that time, the restoration work we have performed, not the imperfect source photograph, is copyrighted under U.S. copyright law.

We offer it framed in either a gold or a wood frame. If you would like to add a frame, please select that option above, under Framing.

– 8.5 x 11" 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.


** IMPORTANT ** There is about an inch-and-a-third of white space around the picture, so the image is smaller than the paper.

Thanks for your interest!

Thanks!
Sue & John