The Progress of a Soul: The Victory

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.