Needlework Picture on Stretcher by Lucy Palmer

Date1757 (dated)

Artist/Maker Lucy Palmer (April 24th, 1742-November 12th, 1836)

MediumWool embroidery threads on a linen ground of 32 x 28 threads per inch, wood frame, ink, metal (fabric identification by eye)

DimensionsOverall: OH: 13" x OW: 13"

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1997-98

DescriptionThis is a needlework picture on its original wooden stretcher. The scene depicts a brick building, trees, animals, and two couples holding hands, all worked in wool embroidery threads on a natural-colored linen ground. At the top of the sampler are four trees, the outer two with yellow leaves and the inner two with green. Between these trees is a red brick, two story building. Above it are two flying birds, and below it, between the house and the trees, are four sheep. At the bottom of the sampler are two couples. They are unfinished and their ink outlines still survive. The woman on the left holds a fan in her right hand and a pink flower in her left. The man at her side holds onto the pink flower, as well. The dress of the woman on the right is unfinished with the exception of some indication of a floral print. She holds a red and pink flower, which the man to her right also holds. To this man's right, in the bottom right corner, are three red flowers with green leaves. The needlework s attached to the stretcher with rose head nails on its top and bottom.

Stitches: tent
Label TextLucy Palmer's crewelwork picture is unusual because it is attached to its original wooden stretcher, where she left it unfinished, in 1757. The unfinished work provides a glimpse into the process of creating an embroidered picture. The stretcher is the type of work frame used to stitch ornamental silk and crewel wool embroideries, and some pictorial samplers. The square-shaped canvas of the picture was stitched to heavy linen strips and nailed in place on the upper and lower stretchers of the frame. The stretchers are kept taut by vertical stretchers, which fit through slits in the horizontal ones and are held in place with adjustable pegs on either side. The design for the composition was outlined in ink. Lucy had begun to fill in the outlines in tent stitches (half cross) in colorful crewels.
MarkingsAn old paper label on the back of the bottom stretcher reads, "Mrs. Wm. F. Brainard found in a trunk inherited possessions in the effects of Mrs. Margaret Hutchinson of Old Lyme Connecticut."
ProvenanceFormerly in the collection of Bertram K. and Nina Fletcher Little. Nina wrote of the piece, "Embroidery frame with picture in old ink on top stretcher Lucy Palmer 1757. An old paper label on back of bottom stretcher: Mrs. Wm. F. Brainard found in a trunk inherited possessions in the effects of Mrs. Margaret Hutchinson of Old Lyme Connecticut." Before this, it likely descended in a branch of the Palmer family that never left Connecticut. Lucy's youngest sister, Sarah (Palmer) Gardiner, lived in New London County, Connecticut. Her daughter, Sarah (Gardiner) Brainard, married into the Brainard family, and her eldest son was William Fowler Brainard. The "Mrs. Wm. F. Brainard" label probably refers to either William's first wife, Ann (Learned) Brainard, or his second wife, Sarah (Prentiss) Brainard. This piece was sold at "The Bertram K. Little and Nina Fletcher Little Collection, Part II" sale at Sotheby's New York on October 21 and 22, 1994, previously in the collection of Richard T. French, Old Lyme, Connecticut.

HISTORY OF MAKER:
This needlework picture was worked by Lucy Palmer in Windham, Connecticut. Lucy was born on April 24th, 1742, the eldest child of Mary Webb and Ebenezer Palmer of Windham. She married Moses Carey on April 22nd, 1763 and the pair lived in Litchfield County. They had five children, none of whom remained in Connecticut. Moses died in 1774 in Kent, Connecticut. Lucy died on November 12th, 1836 at the age of 96 in Ft. Edward, New York.