American (probably), 13 Needlepoint Figural scenes, 18^th/19^th centuries, Embroidered silk panels, Various sizes, Gift of Marjorie Jacobs Yashar (Class of 1962) 2017.198-.210

Thirteen embroideries on silk panel were recently donated to the Davis Museum. Most of the textiles feature pastoral scenes with a woman, allegorical figure, or shepherdess in a bucolic landscape, and were most likely created by an American from the 18^th or 19^th centuries. Young women attending finishing school created advanced figural scenes such as these to practice and demonstrate their sewing techniques and composition. The skill of the sewer is apparent in the variety of stitch types of the needlework and the proficiency of the painting exhibited in the delicate features such as the faces. Many figural embroideries used prints as compositional sources, and the large number of surviving textiles after particular prints attest to their popularity. Two of the works donated to the Davis are copies of a 1772 painting by Angelica Kauffmann, Fame Decorating Shakespeare’s Tomb, made popular from a print by Francesco Bartolozzi. This generous gift of thirteen needlepoints will greatly augment the small collection of textiles at the Davis.