Skip to main content
Gift of Seth P. Holcombe, 1996.150.2  Photograph by David Stansbury.  © 2009 The Connecticut Hi…
Telemachus in the Island of Calypso
Gift of Seth P. Holcombe, 1996.150.2 Photograph by David Stansbury. © 2009 The Connecticut Historical Society.
Photographs and all rights purchased by the Connecticut Historical Society.

Telemachus in the Island of Calypso

Embroiderer (American, 1793 - 1810)
Embroiderer (American, 1794 - 1809)
Date1805-1810
MediumEmbroidery; silk threads and watercolor on a plain-woven silk ground Frame: wood, glass, gold and black paint
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width of frame): 26 1/4 x 32in. (66.7 x 81.3cm)
Component (height x width of stretcher): 22 5/8 x 28 1/4in. (57.5 x 71.8cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Seth P. Holcombe
DescriptionNeedlework picture consisting of gold, yellow, bronze, tan, light brown, medium and light green, and cream silk threads, and watercolor on a plain-woven, cream-colored silk ground; the picture is labeled "TELEMACHUS IN THE ISLAND OF CALYPSO." The picture shows a seated man in sandals a robe between two young woman in classical dress; the women are handing flowers to the seated man. To the right is an older man and woman, also wearing classical costume. The figures are standing in front of a rocky backdrop, with a dark sky in the right background. The needlework picture is behind glass that is painted black at the edges; the title is painted in gold at the bottom center. The gilded wooden frame (original) consists of one deely curved molding.

Each edge of the silk ground is sewn to a strip of linen, which is in turn nailed or tacked to a wooden stretcher (original). Watercolor is painted directly onto the ground; this forms the sky and faces, limbs and feet of the individuals in the picture.

Stitches: The primary stitch on the needlework picture is satin stitch; it also includes long and short, encroaching satin, flat, and overlay work.

Condition: The silk thread is faded moderately. A piece of cardboard has been inserted into the back of the stretcher, to support the silk ground. Small areas of gold paint on the frame are flaking.
Object number1996.150.2a,b
NotesSubject Note: The needlework picture depicts a scene from The Adventures of Telemachus, a novel written by the French bishop Francois de Slaignac de la Mothe-Fenelon, and published in 1699. Fenelon based his work on the characters in the Odyssey, a Greek epic poem attributed to the Homer and written about 800 to 600 B.C. The Odyssey tells the story of the Greek hero Odysseus and his ten-year journey home to Ithaca after the Trojan War. During his travels, Odysseus spent several years on the island Ogygia, captive of the seductive goddess Calypso. Fenelon's work picks up shortly after Odysseus has left the island, while his son, Telemachus, searches for him. In the opening pages of The Adventures of Telemachus, Telemachus is shipwrecked on the island of Ogygia with Mentor, a friend of Odysseus; upon landing, they meet the goddess Calypso and her nymphs. Telemachus proceeds to tell Calypso of his adventures during his search for Odysseus. (Hunt 9/18/2007)
On View
Not on view
Needlework Picture
Sally Stiles
about 1805
Gift of the estate of Mabel H. Talcott, 1956.57.1a-c  Photograph by David Stansbury.  © 2009 Th…
Eliza Talcott
about 1810
Gift of Ada Louise Taylor, 1956.63.9a-c  Photograph by David Stansbury.  © 2009 The Connecticut…
Nancy Hale
1802
Museum purchase,  1987.38.0  Photograph by David Stansbury.  © 2009 The Connecticut Historical …
Sophia Ellsworth
1812
1935.14.1
Lucy Kirby Beckley
1814
Connecticut Historical Society collection, 1998.145.0  Photograph by David Stansbury.  © 2009 T…
Millicent A. Clark
about 1820
Museum purchase, 1986.157.0, Connecticut Historical Society, Copyright Not Determined
Caroline Watrous
about 1815
Connecticut Historical Society collection, 1974.99.0  Photograph by David Stansbury © 2012 The …
Faith Trumbull
1754
Gift of Jonathan Trumbull Rogers, in memory of Eleanor Root Silliman Rogers; The Newman S. Hung…
Faith Trumbull
1754
Gift of Mary E. Hastings, 1922.6.1  Photograph by David Stansbury  © 2009 The Connecticut Histo…
Sarah Lawrence
1797-1805