Sampler
1820s
Medium
Linen, plain weave; appliquéd with silk, satin weave; painted; embroidered with silk, silk chenille, and wool in cross, overcast, satin, split, stem, and tent stitches
Dimensions
88 × 97.8 cm (34 5/8 × 38 1/2 in.)
Classification
textile
Department
Textiles
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
28782
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
From around 1798 through the 1820s, it was fashionable to include a depiction of a particular style of brick building in samplers made in Baltimore. This sampler belongs to a larger group that depicts brick houses with lawns filled with animals and figures, includes silk chenille, and are all considerably large in format. The representation of brick buildings in samplers reflects the construction of more permanent structures associated with prosperity and urban development during the period.
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...