Sampler by Julia Ann Crowley

Date1810 (dated)

Artist/Maker Julia Ann Crowley (1799-ca. 1833)

OriginAmerica, District of Columbia, Washington, Navy Yard

MediumSilk and silk chenille embroidery threads on a linen ground of 30 wefts x 27 warps per inch

DimensionsOH: 21 3/8" OW: 17 3/4"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1991-25

DescriptionThis is a rectangular needlework sampler worked in shades of blue, green, yellow, brown, black, gold, peach (color was originally brighter), and ivory silk and silk chenille threads on a natural-colored linen ground fabric. The sampler has selvedges at top and bottom and a 1/8" hem at sides. The sampler consists of an arcaded border of stylized tulips and star flowers on all four sides with an inner sawtooth border worked in satin stitch. The upper half of sampler consists of a verse flanked by vases with flowers. The verse reads: "What tho' in solemn silence all./ Move round this dark terrestrail ball./ What tho' nor real voice not sound./ Amid their radiant orbs be found./ In Reason's ear they all rejoice./ And upper forth a glorious voice./ For ever singing as they shine./ The hand that made us is Divine." Below verse is a sawtooth band worked in satin stitch and a cartouche worked in chenille threads with the inscription: "Julia Ann Crowley./ Aged 10 years. th' 14th/ of Decr. 1809." Flanking the cartouche are a realistically worked flower bud and open flower.
The bottom half of sampler consists of a three-story brick building with two chimneys flanked by trees with large birds on top. The building is situated on a lawn of grass with figures of a man and woman, woman and child, chicken, dog, birds, and small plants. Below this is "Washington Navy Yard. February th' 10th 1810."

Ground fabric: 30 wefts by 27 warps per inch.

Stitches: button hole, cross, double button hole, half cross, hem, outline, Roumanian, satin, and an unidentified stitch in tree trunks.
Label TextJulia Ann Crowley's sampler is the earliest of at least thirteen architectural samplers worked between the years 1810 and 1842 by all but one student who lived near the Washington Navy Yard. Julia's sampler is the only one to name the Washington Navy Yard. In the cartouche above the red house, Julia worked her age and birth date. She was the daughter of Timothy Crowley, a ship carpenter who lived at "11e near bridge Navy Yard." Julia married Thomas Fitten on June 28, 1820. According to a family letter written in 1925, Julia died at about the age of thirty-three in Norfolk, Virginia, leaving several children. In that same family letter, she was described as "almost a saint a good catholic and everything that was good."
Inscribed"What tho' in solemn silence all./ Move round this dark terrestrail ball./ What tho' nor real voice not sound./ Amid their radiant orbs be found./ In Reason's ear they all rejoice./ And upper forth a glorious voice./ For ever singing as they shine./ The hand that made us is Divine."
"Washington Navy Yard. February th' 10th 1810"
ProvenanceAccording to Christie's the sampler was from the Maryland estate of a man who traveled extensively and collected.

History of sampler maker:
Julia Ann Crowley was the daughter of Timothy Crowley who was a ship carpenter and lived at "11e near bridge Navy Yard". She married Thomas Fitten on June 28, 1820, and according to a family letter written in 1925, died at about the age 33 in Norfolk, leaving several children behind. The letter also describes her as "almost a saint a good catholic and everything that was good." (Betsy Garrett, ANTIQUES, April 1975, pp. 694,695, 697.)