An Embroidered and Painted Silk Picture: Lady Elizabeth Gray

Lady Elizabeth Grey was frequently the subject of patterns drawn by Samuel Folwell (1764-1813) for his wife' s Philadelphia embroidery school, and the figures seen here reveal his unmistakable painting technique. Easily recognized silk embroideries painted by Folwell survive in large numbers and a variety of forms. He unquestionably copied prints, but several of his characteristic patterns may be original; at least, no prototypes have been found. Possibly some of his drawings were ultimately painted by others, or merely copied. Easily mistaken for Samuel's work are later examples occasionally signed G. Folwell by Samuel's son Godfrey. For more about Folwell, see articles by Davida Deutsch in ANTIQUES, February 1981, pp. 420-423; September 1985, pp. 526-527; October 1986, pp. 646-647.