Needlework Picture, "Spring," by Isabella Hall

Dateca. 1790

Artist/Maker Isabella Hall (1777-1816)

OriginAmerica, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia (probably)

MediumSilk and crinkled silk embroidery threads with paint on a silk ground, attached to a poplar stretcher and in a white pine frame backed with a sheet of basswood and fragments of block-printed wallpaper

DimensionsFramed: OH 21 1/2" x OW 24 3/4" Unframed: OH 18 1/8" x OW 21 1/4"

Credit LineGift of Miss Winona Darrah

Object number1969.601.1

DescriptionThis is a needlework picture worked in shades of pink, green, blue, brown, black, and white silk embroidery threads on a silk ground. Three figures occupy the center of the composition; a man and a woman stand to the left and converse with a woman who is seated on the right. The standing woman wears a white robe à l ‘anglaise retroussé over a blue skirt; she also wears a white hat, a white neckerchief, and a white apron. The woman gathers her apron with her (anatomical) right hand, using it to hold a collection of flowers. The man wears a blue coat over a white waistcoat and white breeches; he also wears a black hat over his brown, curly hair. The man and the woman hold a nest that contains four baby birds. The seated woman wears a white robe à l ‘anglaise with a white sash and neckerchief; she has adorned her brown, curly hair with flowers. She holds a garland of what appear to be roses in her hands; a shallow basket containing more flowers lays at her feet. Each of the figures has red, painted cheeks. To the right of this grouping is a copse of trees. To the left of this grouping is a basket of flowers that rests on the ground in front of some shrubbery. Two men are employed in planting the fields that lie atop of rolling hills that recede into the distance. On one of the hills is a church and several houses. The background consists of a faded sky painted in watercolors.

Inscribed in silk thread over faint ink guidelines in the lower margin is the word "SPRING" and, in the lower right corner, is "Isabella Hall Fecit". A pencil inscription in script on the backboard is largely illegible; it appears to read, in part, "J A R (illeg.) Silver (illeg.)/ Spring field/ (illeg)."

Except for its replaced glass, this piece appears to be in its original condition. The edges of the silk ground are tacked to yellow poplar strainers backed with a sheet of basswood. Strips of wallpaper block-printed in a design of white foliage and red and cream blossoms are used to seal a crack in the backboard and all of the gaps between the strainers and the backboard. The white pine frame is also original to the picture.

Stitches: couched, fern, satin
Label TextThis picture was worked by Isabella Hall (1777-1816). On January 16, 1794, Hall married James Rose at St. Paul's Church in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is likely that Isabella grew up in Philadelphia where she could have attended one of a number of schools that specialized in female accomplishments. Elements of this picture, namely the crossed trees and the three-pronged leaves, are typical of pieces produced at the Philadelphia school of Elizabeth and Samuel Folwell, however we cannot be certain that Hall was one of their students.

The three figures in this picture are based on a print entitled "Spring", which was originally published in 1785 in England by Sayer & Bennett. A later version of this print, which was published around 1800 in Philadelphia, probably served as the direct source of inspiration for this picture.
Inscribed"SPRING"
MarkingsA pencil inscription in script on the backboard is largely illegible; it appears to read, in part, "J A R (illegible material) Silver(illeg.)/ Spring field/ (illeg)."
ProvenanceGift of Winona E. Darrah, Little Silver, N.J. Winona E. Darrah is the daughter of Edith Leonard (1879-1956), who was the daughter of George Leonard (1845-1924), who was the son of Mary B. Rose (1808-1894), who was the daughter of the maker, Isabella Hall (1816-1794).