Mourning Embroidery

William Parkinson

National Gallery of Art

This is a painting of a memorial sampler. It shows a rectangular textile piece with a pink fringed edge. In the center, there is an inscription framed by weeping willow trees and figures on either side. The figures are in mourning poses facing a central obelisk-like structure with text inscriptions. Surrounding the central scene are floral and foliage motifs in colors like purples, greens, and beiges. This style is reminiscent of American folk art samplers used in memory of loved ones.