Whenever I am enthralled by a painting for a cross stitch project, I always try and research the story behind it. In this case, a painting of a Knight and Lady entitled Aucassin and Nicolette led to discovering that this was based on a medieval French "chante-fable" or a sung story. The story goes that Garin, Count of Beaucaire, prevented his son Aucassin, and Nicolette, a Saracen slave girl from getting married. Aucassin and Nicolette desperately want to marry, but Garin forbids it and imprisons the lovers, though they both eventually escape. After many romantic adventures, the young lovers are wed. Nicolette is revealed to be a Saracen princess of the noblest ancestry. Now isn't that an absolutely romantic story?
The 19th century painting by Marianne Stokes is on at the top and the cross stitch pattern interpretation on the bottom.
In order to retain the details of the faces, clothes and background, maximum dithering was used. That and using 53 DMC embroidery colors got it close to the painting. The finished cross stitch project on a 14 count aida will be 11" x 15". This will look great with dark wood framing and some gold staining. A great cross stitch project to grace the living room, drawing room, library or guest room.
Imagine having this cross stitch project hanging in your home and having to tell your guests about the story of Aucassin and Nicolette!
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