Needlework picture (Silkwork picture)

Description

This needlework picture, likely representing the biblical story of Isaac meeting his wife-to-be, Rebecca, is executed here in a somewhat lively interpretation with bright, cheerful colors, bold, expressive lines, and fanciful figures. In the story, Rebecca was given a choice in selecting her mate. This would have been an appealing concept to the young needleworker in Colonial America, who was likely on the verge of marriage and hopeful for a promising future. No specific design source has been found to link this scene to a documented illustration of the biblical couple, and the figures have postures and gestures typical of a generic courting couple. The well, jug, parasol, and veil, symbols found in other representations of Rebecca, are not found in this scene, yet the presence of the turrets, the tents, and the of the camel (within the scene instead of within a border) suggest that this is a depiction of the the bible story. This design is stylistically similar to English works, but has some distinctive American characteristics, particularly those associated with examples from Philadelphia.