The Fall (The serpent beguiled me, and I did Eat)

Cross stitch pattern from Barbara Ana Designs. A large part of this remarkable sampler by Barbara Ana is dedicated to a full extract of the scene in Genesis 3:3 to 3:10 when the serpent tempts Eve to eat the apple. The quote is the original text from King James Bible. The beginning of the quote is the following: Now the serpent was more subtil than any beast of the field which the LORD God had made. And he said unto the woman, Yea, hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden? The quote ends, in the central part of the sampler, just below the figures of Adam, as if to give it extra emphasis: What is this that thou hast done? The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat. Paradise lost is a recurring theme in Barbara Ana's work, yet this is the first time she has devoted such a large and impressive sampler to the subject. Here she signs her work (see left) as if she was actually a young girl in the early 19th century, tackling her first large needlework project where she would have been able to both express her sense of creativity and her profound faith. The large Bible quote almost serves as a background, framing the upper part of the sampler. At the top, a void seems to open a way into heaven, leading to angels and a celestial blue sky. The Adam, Eve and serpent scene from the bible features prominently in the center. It is surrounded by 2 oversize animals, both facing the couple: a fine horse wit a chestnut coat, and, opposite, a sturdy bull with a spotted hide. Additional motifs, including houses, women figures, and a multitude of animals and fruit occupy the background. The palette of colors is very subtle, with a slightly faded feel. The antique look is reinforced by the staining of the fabric with walnut. Stitch count 275 x 336.