Needlework, Penelope Taking Down the Bow of Ulysses, 1790-1810
01
Artifact Overview
Fifteen-year-old Mary Jacobs composed and crafted this needlework picture over many hours, probably while attending a school for privileged ladies. Her design - a scene from the Greek epic poem, the Odyssey - exemplifies a contemporary interest in classical antiquity. Turn-of-the-nineteenth-century Americans associated ancient Greek and Roman imagery with the rebirth of democracy and representative government in their young republic.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Needlework (Visual work)
Date Made
1790-1810
Creators
Place of Creation
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
64.152.2.2
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Silk (Textile)
Metal
Technique
Embroidering
Color
Ivory (Color)
Red
Gold (Color)
Green
Blue
Beige (Color)
Rose (Color)
Dimensions
Height: 22 in
Width: 22.25 in
Inscriptions
PENELOPE taking down the BOW of ULLYSES.
Inscribed in ink on paper glued to the back of the framed picture:
"Wrought by Miss Mary Jacobs in the year 1773, then in the fifteenth year of her age in the City of New York U..S. American /
Now the property of Mrs. Hannah M. Allen daughter of the above. Troy New York U.S. American Nov. 24, 187(3?)/This piece of Embroidery was saved by great exertion from the great fire of May 10th 1869 in the city of Troy./Mars. Hannah M. Allen Troy Ny U.S. Am_____/
Nov.24th 1879."
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