Needlework picture (Canvaswork picture)

  • Category:

    Textiles (Needlework)

  • Creator (Role):

    Christian Williams (Maker)

  • Place of Origin:

    Lebanon or Norwich Connecticut, United States, North America

  • Materials:

    Linen; Wool; Metal

  • Techniques:

    Embroidered, Woven (plain), Canvaswork

  • Museum Object Number:

    1965.3080


  • Complete Details



Object Number

1965.3080

Object Name

Needlework picture (Canvaswork picture)

Category

Textiles (Needlework)

Credit Line/Donor

Bequest of Henry Francis du Pont

Creator (Role)

Christian Williams (Maker)
1738-1816
This canvaswork picture, dated 1751, was worked by Christian Williams of Norwich, Connecticut, using wool yarns on canvas. Christian (1738-1816) was the eighth child out of eleven, and was named after her grandmother, Christian Stoddard Williams. Her father was the highly respected and influential Reverend Solomon Williams (1701-1776) of Lebanon, who was also the first cousin of the Reverend Jonathan Edwards. Her mother was Mary Porter (1703-1787), also from Lebanon. Rachel married her sister Mary's (1733-1793) brother-in-law John Salter (1725-1795) of Mansfield. Christian was the grandmother of Christian and Harriet Salter, whose later needlework pictures can be found in other collections. See Betty Ring, Girlhood Embroidery Fig. 226, pg. 197 (Fig. 223 for her sister Mary's work and Figs. 248 and 246 for Christian and Harriet Salters work.)

Place of Origin

Lebanon or Norwich Connecticut, United States, North America

Subjects

Biblical scene

Materials

Linen; Wool; Metal

Techniques

Embroidered, Woven (plain), Canvaswork

Construction Description

Hand-embroidered

Dimensions (inches)

16.5 (L) , 21 (W)

Dimensions (centimeters)

41.91 (L) , 53.34 (W)

Measurement Notes

Measurements are by sight. Dimensions refer to area of needlework visible within frame.

Object Description

Web - 06/20/2014

Christian Williams worked this canvaswork picture in 1751 with crewel yarns and metallic threads on linen canvas. Christian was from Norwich, Connecticut. Christian and her sister Mary Williams, whose canvaswork picture can be found in another collection, may have been tutored by the same teacher. At the time that their pictures were wrought, a schoolmistress, who was teaching needlework skills to the daughters of prominent families, was drawing patterns portraying Biblical subjects with human figures in Colonial dress. Although Christian's picture does not seem to be Biblical in nature, it could possibly represent a story from the Bible. The inscription reads: "CHRISTIAN WILLIAMS / 1751"

Bibliography and Bibliographic Notes

[Book] Ring, Betty. 1993 Girlhood Embroidery: American Samplers & Pictorial Needlework 1650-1850. I.
Published: p. 197, fig. 226
[Book] Schoelwer, Susan P. 2010 Connecticut Needlework: Women, Art, And Family, 1740-1840.
Published: p. 46, fig. 9.1