Textile & Paper: Image of Empress Irene on a Gold solidus, AD 800

Early in 2024, I bought a book called Femina by Janina Ramirez and in it, she wrote about Empress Irene from Constantinople (AD 800).  In the book was a photograph of a gold coin that had survived from her time.   The coin refers to her as "Emperor of Rome".  I loved her story and was mesmerized by the coin and wanted to recreate it in fabric on paper.  

Fabric and thread on Paper

Dimensions: 8.25"w x 11"h

                     21cm x 28cm

All images © Melissa Vickers