Panel Entitled "Night"
19th century
Medium
Cross stitch and beads on canvas
Dimensions
40.7 × 42 cm (16 × 16 1/2 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
78848
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
This delicate textile panel, titled "Night" and created in the 19th century after a design by Danish sculptor Bertel Thorvaldsen, captures the Neoclassical elegance for which the artist is renowned. Thorvaldsen, a leading figure in the movement, often depicted allegorical figures drawn from classical mythology, and this work likely translates one of his sculpted reliefs into a stitched format. Measuring just over 16 inches square, the piece exemplifies how his widely admired compositions reached broader audiences through adaptations in various media. Crafted with cross stitch and beads on canvas, the panel highlights the intricate handwork typical of 19th-century textile arts. Such techniques allowed for luminous, textured surfaces that mimicked the soft modeling of marble or plaster originals, blending fine art with domestic craftsmanship. Now part of the Art Institute of Chicago’s textiles collection, it offers visitors a glimpse into how Neoclassical ideals of harmony and serenity were reinterpreted for everyday appreciation during the period.
About the Artist
Bertel Thorvaldsen · 1770–1844
Danish sculptor. Comment on works: sculptor