Life of Abraham

Art Historical Context

This embroidered textile, created in Britain during the third quarter of the seventeenth century, presents episodes from the biblical Life of Abraham. Worked in silk on canvas, the piece transforms the story of the patriarch into a lively visual narrative filled with angels, men, women, and an array of creatures—lions deer, rabbits, squirrels, frogs, butterflies, birds, dogs, and even unicorns—that populate the landscape. Such densely populated scenes were typical of Stuart-era embroidery, where makers combined religious storytelling with decorative exuberance. Although attributed to the Flemish engraver and cartographer Gerard de Jode, the work reflects British textile traditions of the period. Professional and domestic embroiderers often drew inspiration from printed sources, translating engraved designs into thread. The medium itself carried cultural weight: silk embroidery was prized for its luminosity and durability, allowing biblical tales to be displayed in homes as both devotional aids and status symbols. Today in the Metropolitan Museum’s collection, the panel demonstrates how seventeenth-century artisans blended faith, natural observation, and imagination. Its intricate stitches and vivid palette invite viewers to appreciate embroidery not merely as craft but as a sophisticated art form capable of conveying complex narratives through texture and color.

About the Artist

Gerard de Jode · 1509–1591

Gerard de Jode (c. 1509–1591) was a prominent Netherlandish cartographer, engraver, and publisher based in Antwerp. Born in Nijmegen, he established himself in the vibrant artistic and commercial center of Antwerp, where he was admitted to the Guild of St. Luke in 1547. This marked the beginning of his career as a publisher of maps and prints. De Jode worked within the established Netherlandish t...