Main Bead Embroidery Kit Icon of the Mother of «Seven Arrows»

The icon of the Mother of God of the “Seven Arrows” shows the Mother with seven arrows piercing her heart — three from one side and four from the other. The figure is shown at full length in a gentle turn, with lowered eyes. It is one of the most recognisable images of the Mother of God, and its whole force rests on those arrows.

What the picture shows

The maphorion is stitched in deep red with a gold edging, and a blue garment with a fine pattern shows beneath it; the folds are laid in rows of several shades, so the fabric reads as three-dimensional. The arrows, with silver tips and gold shafts, converge on her breast — the finest and most detailed passage in the whole piece. The halo is gold and the ground a warm ochre. The border is wide, in a woven blue and red ornament that resembles cross stitch, with a panel at the bottom carrying a beaded Church Slavonic inscription. The face and hands stay as print on the canvas, so the expression keeps all the softness of the original painting.

What is in the kit

• Artist canvas with the full-colour pattern printed on it — no chart to follow on a screen
• Czech Preciosa beads, 17 colours
• Beading needles
• Instructions and finishing guide

Specifications

• Finished size: 190×290 mm (7.5×11.4 in)
• Beads: approx. 9,417
• Bead colours: 17
• Difficulty: above average
• Base: artist canvas

The piece is vertical and a little taller than the other icons in the group. The elongated format lets the figure read at full length, so the image also works well on its own. Gallery finishing is possible — the canvas stretches over a bar and hangs with no frame or mount.