St. Lebbeus.
EmbroidererAttributed to
Prudence Punderson
(American, 1758 - 1784)
Date1776-1780
MediumEmbroidery; silk thread, floss and ink on a plain-woven silk ground
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width of ground): 9 x 8 3/8in. (22.9 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 number1962.28.3j
DescriptionNeedlework picture worked in black, dark green, light and dark brown, beige or cream, yellow and pink 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. Lebbeus/ Whose Sirname was Thaddeus." 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 and a description of their death.
The needlework picture is rectangular, oriented vertically. It shows a man seated on a chair to the right of a trestle table; an inkstand with a feather quill and a piece of fruit (quince) sit on the table. The man wears a long back robe, or banyan, and holds a large book in his hands. The man is seated beneath a fruit tree; one short branch of the tree holds the man's tan wide-brimmed hat. To the right of the man is a grape vine with a small dog seated at its base.
All four edges of the needlework are whip-stitched. The picture is hand-drawn on the ground with red and black ink then embroidered in untwisted silk and S-spun single ply silk thread. 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 and some free-form stitches.
Condition: 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 seated on a chair to the right of a trestle table; an inkstand with a feather quill and a piece of fruit (quince) sit on the table. The man wears a long back robe, or banyan, and holds a large book in his hands. The man is seated beneath a fruit tree; one short branch of the tree holds the man's tan wide-brimmed hat. To the right of the man is a grape vine with a small dog seated at its base.
All four edges of the needlework are whip-stitched. The picture is hand-drawn on the ground with red and black ink then embroidered in untwisted silk and S-spun single ply silk thread. 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 and some free-form stitches.
Condition: 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: Lebbeus Thaddeus, more commonly known as Jude, is listed in Matthew 10:2-4 as one of the twelve apostles. Jude's death is described in John Foxe's Book of Martyrs (written and published about 1560): "Jude. The brother of James [the Less], was commonly called Thaddeus. He was crucified at Edessa, A.D. 72." Jude's attribute is a club, halberd or lance, according to the various accounts of his death. He may also be shown with a book, representing the book of Jude in the new testament, or carpenter's rule. (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
