Picture (Needlepoint)
18th century
Medium
Silk, plain weave; embroidered with silk threads in satin and chain stitch
Dimensions
36.7 × 47.6 cm (14 1/4 × 18 3/4 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
46705
Art Historical Context
This exquisite 18th-century needlepoint picture, crafted from silk plain weave and embroidered with vibrant silk threads, exemplifies the refined domestic arts of the period. Measuring 36.7 × 47.6 cm, it was designed as a framed pictorial embroidery, transforming everyday needlework into a wall-worthy work of art. Though the artist remains unknown—likely a skilled home embroiderer—the piece reflects the era's emphasis leisure crafts among the middle and upper classes, where such textiles adorned parlors and bedrooms, blending utility with beauty. The medium's significance lies in its luxuriou...
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...