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“Spring”

Maria Antoinette Dorsey, Moravian Seminary for Young Ladies, Lititz, and others

“Spring”

1824-1829

Scroll
Physical Qualities Silk ground, silk embroidery threads, watercolor, linen lining, 16 x 12-1/2 in. (40.7 x 31.8 cm.
Credit Line Gift of Mrs. John W. Nicol, Jr., Baltimore
Object Number 1976.100
James Thomson’s epic poem The Seasons (1730) gained great popularity with European and American audiences, resulting in many engraved illustrations. Some of these served as inspiration for embroideries, especially at schools in Lititz and Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Although Maria Antoinette Dorsey lived in Maryland, she may have attended school out of state. Her silk-on-silk picture Spring is adapted from Laurie and Whittle’s 1794 mezzotint of the same name, although the male figure in the print has been eliminated in the embroidery. The artist who drew the pattern for the needlework and delicately painted the faces, hair, hands, and other details is unknown, but the quality suggests a professional. No less impressive is the excellent stitching, which indicates that Maria was a superb needlewoman.
Baltimore Museum of Art by gift, 1976; Pamela L Nicol (Mrs. John W. Nicol, Jr.) Baltimore, MD by descent; Maria Antoinette Dorsey (1815-1890).
Lessons Learned: American Schoolgirl Embroidery

Textiles American Needlework
Ring, Betty. Girlhood Embroidery: American Samplers & Pictorial Needlework 1650-1850. New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1993, Vol. II, p. 419, fig. 465 (shows the print 'Spring' from which this needlework was taken).
Christie's, 'Fine American Furniture, Silver, Folk Art and Decorative Arts,' October 1, 1988, p. 113, lot 262, shows a needlework picture of similar sophistication.

Inscribed: None.

Maker

Maria Antoinette Dorsey

1814–1889

American,1815-1890
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School

Moravian Seminary for Young Ladies, Lititz

2000–2000

Lititz, PA
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School

Moravian Seminary for Young Ladies, Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

1741–1862

1742 - 1863
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