Painted with Silk: The Art of Early American Embroidery

December 13, 2024 – June 15, 2025

Updated Dec 4, 2024

This exhibition juxtaposes a large group of embroideries made by American girls and young women between 1740 and 1830, with contemporary embroideries by Elaine Reichek, revealing changing attitudes toward gender, race and class. 

Press release

Painted with Silk

This exhibition juxtaposes a large group of embroideries made by American girls and young women between 1740 and 1830, with contemporary embroideries by Elaine Reichek, revealing changing attitudes toward gender, race and class. 

Press release

Ann Susan Hancock. The Shepardess of the Alps, ca 1820’s. Silk and watercolor on silk. Michael R. Payne and Suzanne Rudnick Payne.

Ann Susan Hancock (around age 13), The Shepherdess of the Alps, ca. 1820s. Collection of Suzanne and Michael Payne

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The Finding of Moses, ca. 1810, Mrs. Lydia Bull Royce School. Silk, velvet, fabric applique and watercolor on silk. Michael R. Payne and Suzanne Rudnick Payne.

Unidentified Maker, Mrs. Lydia Bull Royse’s School, Hartford Connecticut, The Finding of Moses, ca. 1810. Collection of Suzanne and Michael Payne

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Wisdom Instructing Youth in the Science of Geography

Unidentified Maker, attributed to Susanna Rowson’s Academy, Boston or Boston area, Massachusetts, Wisdom Instructing Youth in the Science of Geography, ca. 1810. Collection of Suzanne and Michael Payne

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Caroline Porter. All is the Gift of Industry, ca. 1805. Silk and watercolor on silk. Michael R. Payne and Suzanne Rudnick Payne.

Caroline Porter (age 12), Mrs. Saunders & Miss Beach’s Academy, Dorchester, Massachusetts, All is the Gift of Industry, 1805. Collection of Suzanne and Michael Payne

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Needlework of a country scene surrounded by flower imagery in a gold frame.

Melancia Bowker (age 13), Sampler, 1817. Collection of Sharon and Jeffery Lipton

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Needlework of a pink building on a green landscape in a black frame.

Sarah Eckstein (age 9), House and Yard, 1818. Collection of Sharon and Jeffrey Lipton
Photo courtesy of Stephen & Carol Huber
 

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These are My Jewels

Catherine Langdon Wright (age 11), Susanna Rowson’s Academy, Boston, Massachusetts, These Are My Jewels: Having Educated Them with Care for the Service of Their Country, 1808. DIA no. 2024.148

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reichek_moby_dick

Elaine Reichek, Sampler (Moby Dick), 1997. Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, Gift of the Estate of Melva Bucksbaum 2019.371
© Elaine Reichek
 

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clarke_memorial.

Unidentified Member of the Clarke Family, Richmond, Massachusetts, Sacred to the Memory of Isabella Clarke, ca. 1795. Collection of Suzanne and Michael Payne

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E2024.86

Elaine Reichek, Sampler (H.R.), 1993. The Jewish Museum, New York, 1997-195f

© Elaine Reichek

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Woman holding sword in front of a soldier, in front of a gold tree.

Mary Francis, Susanna Rowson's School, Boston area, Massachusetts, Imogen and Pisanio, 1809. Collection of Suzanne and Michael Payne

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