Artifacts

Mourning Sampler for George Washington

There was a huge outpouring of grief when Washingtion died in 1799. This sampler draws from classical imagery in its depiction of sorrow.

This mourning sampler is in the style of those made at Elizabeth & Samuel Folwell’s school in Philadephia in the early 1800s. The artist (Samuel Folwell or his son Godfrey) drew the design on the silk which was stretched on a frame. Then the student was taught embroidery under the instruction of Elizabeth Folwell. Lastly, Samuel or Godfrey painted in the sky, faces, arms and other details.

Sacred to the Memory
of the Illustrious Washington