Sampler

Douglas Campbell

National Gallery of Art

This is a painting of an embroidered sampler with alphabets and floral patterns. The artwork features various scripts of the alphabet in different colors and styles at the top part of the piece, followed by rows of decorative floral patterns. A decorative frame of intertwined green vines with red flowers surrounds the entire sampler. Below the alphabets, there are symmetrical floral motifs, including roses and a central decorative emblem stating, "Mary S. Smith wrought this sampler in 1851, Carlisle." In the lower part of the sampler, another floral design with cornucopia-like elements can be seen, along with the inscription "School N No 8" indicating its place or origin. The overall composition presents a harmonious balance between typography and ornamentation, indicative of the traditional sampler style.