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Brussels Lace

Brussels lace is a sort of pillow lace that has roots around Brussels. There are many laces around Brussels that are too popular; however, the Brussels lace is strictly interpreted to bobbin lace in which the pattern is prepared first, then the ground. Brussels lace therefore should not be confused with Brussels point that is a sort of needle lace. Brussels lace is prepared in pieces, with the flowers and design different from the ground, unlike Mechlin lace or Valenciennes lace this help the long threads that form the design to be according to the curves of the pattern, whereas in bobbin laces prepared instantly, the threads run parallel  to the entire length of the lace.

Brussels lace easily can be recognized through its réseau or background, the toilé or pattern, and the lack of a cordonnet which outlines the pattern. The réseau is hexagonal, with four threads plaited four times on two sides, and two threads twisted twice on the remaining four sides. The toilé can be of two types, the standard woven texture like a piece of fabric, or a more open version with more of the appearance of a netted réseau. This brings the impact of the shades in the design an effect that was further used in the later designs. In Brussels lace, in place of cordonnet, the pattern is bordered with open stitches that then move around from the réseau or background.

Brussels lace is far popular for its delicacy and beauty. At its reality, it was prepared with the finest spun lined thread that is spun in dark damp rooms so that the threads do not become too much brittle. There only one ray of light use to be allowed in the room and falling straight on to the thread.  This the quality of this fine thread that prevents the mechanized production of the Brussels lace as well its production at other places as well. Brussels lace cost wise charge more than Mechlin lace, and is in much demand in   England and France. The production of the Brussels lace started in the   15th century and for the first time in detail is explained in England in a list given to Princess Mary at New Years 1543.

On the basis of Production, Brussels lace is found in three types including Point d’Angleterre came as the smuggled Brussels lace into the England due to a 1662 English Parliament bill that banned the import all sort of laces into the United Kingdom. And the lace with this name too becomes popular at other parts of Europe as well. Point plat appliqué is the name given to Brussels lace where the design is made on machine net, in place of handmade réseau. Point Duchesse is the type of Brussels lace that does not have a réseau.

The Death of Marat is an eighteenth century (Year 1793) painting in the Neo-classical style by the Jacques- Louis David. The painting is being revered and is praised as an image from the French Revolution. This painting depicts the killing of radical journalist Jean-Paul Marat, killed on the 13th of July 1793 by Charlotte Corday. Corday was a French Revolutionary figure hailing from a mediocre aristocratic family. Corday, held Marat for the September Massacres and feared an all out civil war. He favored the assassination as terming it as an effort to save one lakh lives by killing the only one.

Jean-Paul Marat was a Swiss-born French physician, philosopher, political theorist and scientist and was referred as the well known radical journalist and politician from the French Revolution. It is said about him that Marat use to take shelter of cold bath to ease him from the violent itching as emerging from skin diseases that he suffered for a long period and are said to be caused as when he was forced to escape in Paris sewers to save him from his enemies. David was a close friend of Marat, as well as a strong supporter of Robespierre and the Jacobins. As he had a facial tumor as occurred due to fencing, David was excessively happy with his capacity to convince crowd for their speeches. He as an effort to memorize his friend, David painted this portrait of Marat.

Marat is quite praised one and is idealized and the painting there keeps no sign of skin problems. However in this painting he is not shown with the marks of his skin problems. David, however, collected the details from his visit to Marat’s residence well before the assassination as including, the green rug, the papers, and the pen.  David, there promised his friends in the National Convention that would inspect and show their murdered friend invocatively. The Death of Marat is there referred and designed as a personal hero. Yet the name Charlotte Corday can be seen there on the paper as kept in Marat’s left hand, the assassin herself is not visible.

While a close look of this painting shows Marat at his last breath when Corday and many others were yet close to them. And there David had tried to preserve more than the horror of martyrdom. In this manner, the painting, entirely from its beginning is a systematic construction of the victim and according to many critiques is termed as the “awful beautiful lie”. Many a times, the painting Death of Marat is been compared to the Michelangelo’s Pieta.