John L. Sullivan Quilt
c. 1890
Medium
Pieced and embroidered “crazy” quilt top; dyed and printed silk, cotton, wool and metallic, plain, twill, satin, velvet and patterned weave fabrics and ribbons; silk, metallic and cotton embroidery threads
Dimensions
209.6 × 201.9 cm (82 1/2 × 79 1/2 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
181719
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
Lionizing the infamous Irish-American boxer John Sullivan, this quilt presents a striking collage of representational images, patterns, and text. The embroidered portrait of Sullivan in the center depicts him as a formidable individual with crossed arms and a steely gaze. Around him, the quilt features an irregular assemblage of fabric scraps embroidered with imagery and text drawn from popular print media of the time. Although the central placement of the portrait, which is accented with shamro...
About the Artist
Unknown
The artist designated as "Unknown" in our virtual museum's collection exemplifies a poignant chapter in art history: creators whose identities have faded into obscurity despite the enduring power of their work. With only one known artwork attributed to them in our holdings, this figure represents countless anonymous hands that shaped visual culture across centuries. Museums worldwide, including th...