Historical description

It was in the 1400's that needle lace became a painting: each ornament is history, it was carried out using a needle, silk and threads. The magnificence of this art is documented in the private collections of Sforza, Gonzaga etc. Used during the baroque period with gold thread, above all in sacred vestments, it emerges from Venice in the 1600's with notable families. Reappraised in the 1800's when the European market was invaded by oriental silks with embroidery representing subjects pertaining to reality as only a painter can do.

Technical description

Needle painting transfers onto cloth the characteristics of a painting, the needle and thread have the function of a brush and colours. Contrary to the classical technique here the stitches are dense producing a homogenous surface; from the left margin one takes a small portion of cloth making a stitch to the extremity of the design, a small transverse stitch is then made and so on etc. using the needle in different directions depending upon the effect, the shading or the movement that the subject requires.

Information workshop 11^th - 12^th May 2005

Teacher: Asmara Mannocci, Cultural Association "Il Ricamo diventa Pittura"- Pisa

Language: Italian, English, French

Prerequisite: A good hand and competence in embroidery is required.

Objective: Learning the technique "Mannocci needle painting", use of shading and working a floral motif.

Materials provided by the organisation:Linen cloth with design, stranded cotton, needles, workbook.

Materials to be provided by the pupils: embroidery frame, scissors, thimble.