Needlework Picture

Francis Law Durand

National Gallery of Art

This is a drawing of an embroidered sampler. The image displays an intricately detailed embroidery sampler, featuring an arrangement of various motifs and designs, predominantly floral. The piece is framed in red and segmented into five parts, each bearing its own unique embroidered pattern, including flowers and possibly insects, surrounded by decorative motifs like baskets and grids formed by cross-stitching. Each section is carefully crafted, showcasing a palette primarily composed of greens, yellows, and blues. The bottom section of the sampler prominently features the embroidered inscription “Sarah Barlows work 1841”. The placement of each design element suggests an intent to showcase embroidery skills and a sense of symmetry and balance across the artwork.