St. John the Evangelist
EmbroidererAttributed to
Prudence Punderson
(American, 1758 - 1784)
Date1776-1780
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread and ink on a plain-woven silk ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width of ground): 9 3/8 x 8 3/8in. (23.8 x 21.3cm)
Mount (height x width): 9 1/2 x 8 1/2in. (24.1 x 21.6cm)
ClassificationsTextiles
Credit LineGift of Newton C. Brainard
Object number1962.28.3d
DescriptionNeedlework picture worked in black, brown, light and dark green, cream, yellow and light blue silk threads on a plain-woven gold silk ground, using a surface satin stitch and other stitches. At the bottom is a hand-written inscription in black ink: "St. John the Evangelist." This is one of a group of twelve silk needlework pictures; each depicts an apostle and has an ink inscription at the bottom with the name of the apostle.
The needlework picture is rectangular, oriented vertically. It shows a man in profile standing on a rocky shore looking out to sea. He wears a long black robe, or banyan, holds a book in his right hand, and a chalice containing a winged snake in his left hand. At this feet are small flowers an an eagle with partially outstretched wings. At sea is a sailing vessel with three masts and two flags. The sky has several fluffy clouds.
The edges of the needlwork picture are whip-stitched. The picture is hand-drawn with blue ink and some red ink directly on the ground. The needlework is embroidered in untwisted silk and silk floss. The ground has 112 yarns per inch in the warp and 80 yarns per inch in the weft.
Stitches: The principal stitch is the surface satin stitch; it also includes satin, stem, running, and feather stitches.
Condition: There is some loss to the ground at the right edge, the lower right corner and the bottom edge. There is some fading to the ground and embroidery. The needlework picture has been cleaned gently then stitched to a plain-woven cotton support fabric applied to a rigid mount. The picture is not framed.
The needlework picture is rectangular, oriented vertically. It shows a man in profile standing on a rocky shore looking out to sea. He wears a long black robe, or banyan, holds a book in his right hand, and a chalice containing a winged snake in his left hand. At this feet are small flowers an an eagle with partially outstretched wings. At sea is a sailing vessel with three masts and two flags. The sky has several fluffy clouds.
The edges of the needlwork picture are whip-stitched. The picture is hand-drawn with blue ink and some red ink directly on the ground. The needlework is embroidered in untwisted silk and silk floss. The ground has 112 yarns per inch in the warp and 80 yarns per inch in the weft.
Stitches: The principal stitch is the surface satin stitch; it also includes satin, stem, running, and feather stitches.
Condition: There is some loss to the ground at the right edge, the lower right corner and the bottom edge. There is some fading to the ground and embroidery. The needlework picture has been cleaned gently then stitched to a plain-woven cotton support fabric applied to a rigid mount. The picture is not framed.
Label TextThe subject matter of this series is unique in early American needlework.
Each picture depicts one of the twelve Christian apostles, accompanied
by one or more of his traditional symbols and a caption describing
his manner of death. These grim captions contrast starkly with the
pleasant landscapes, bright flowers, and engaging animals that evoke
a Garden of Eden. The subject matter likely relates to the Punderson
family’s adherence to the Church of England, an unpopular choice in
overwhelmingly Congregational colonial Connecticut.
The stitches are executed with great precision and ingenuity on fine silk,
and convey muscles, drapery, feathers, wood grain, and wool. The facial
expressions are more individualized than was generally attempted or
achieved in early American embroidery.
NotesSubject Note: St. John the Evangelist is listed in Matthew 10:2-4 as one of the twelve apostles. He is the presumed author of the fourth gospel and the book of Revelation; he was the only apostle besides Judas Iscariot to escape a martyr's death. Religious imagery often places John on the island of Patmos while writing Revelation. He is shown in a rocky desert in the act of writing; the eagle, the symbol of his inspiration, is beside him. In other images, John is also associated with a chalice containing a winged snake; this refers to the traditional story of a priest of the temple of Diana giving John a poisoned cup to drink as a test of the power of his faith. The chalice stands for the Christian faith and the snake for Satan. John survived unharmed. (Source: James Hall, Dictionary of Subjects & Symbols in Art)Each picture depicts one of the twelve Christian apostles, accompanied
by one or more of his traditional symbols and a caption describing
his manner of death. These grim captions contrast starkly with the
pleasant landscapes, bright flowers, and engaging animals that evoke
a Garden of Eden. The subject matter likely relates to the Punderson
family’s adherence to the Church of England, an unpopular choice in
overwhelmingly Congregational colonial Connecticut.
The stitches are executed with great precision and ingenuity on fine silk,
and convey muscles, drapery, feathers, wood grain, and wool. The facial
expressions are more individualized than was generally attempted or
achieved in early American embroidery.
Source Note: Some elements of the needlework pictures of the Twelve Apostles (1962.28.3a-l) are taken from The Artist's Vade Mecum (published in London, 1776).
Status
Not on view
