-A Parisian Beggar Girl-

The Progress of a Soul: The Victory

Artist: Phoebe Anna Traquair (Scottish, 1852 - 1936)

Date: 1902

Medium: Silk and gold thread embroidered on linen

Collection: National Galleries of Scotland, Edinburg, Scotland

About this artwork

This richly coloured and detailed embroidery is the final, climactic work in a series of four called The Progress of a Soul and was made between 1899 and 1902. The human soul is represented by an ideal young man dressed in an animal skin, who was based on the character of Denys L'Auxerrois from Imaginary Portraits by the English critic and writer Walter Pater. In this panel, The Victory, Denys is seen after death, reborn into eternal life. He has been awoken with a kiss from a red haired, red winged seraph, suggesting he has entered the realm of heaven.

Gold geese earrings, Greece, 3rd-1st century AD

from The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston

The Engagement Ring (1891) by John William Godward

Ianthe (1889) by John William Godward

Gilded and gold inlaid iron sword uncovered by archaeologists at the Filipovka Kurgans, Orenburg Oblast, Russia.

Sarmatian, 7th century BC

Devil May Cry, 2001

Afternoon Silence (1900) by Wilhelm Kotarbinski

Jacob and the Angel (1878) by Gustave Moreau

-Cover composed by Mucha for the french literary and artistic Review La Plume-

The Suitors (1862) by Gustave Moreau