Rare watercolor religious text with adam and eve Southeastern Pennsylvania, early 19th century

Watercolor and ink on paper

Joe Kindig Jr., York, Pennsylvania, 1971

American Radiance: The Ralph Esmerian Gift to the American Folk Art Museum, p. 245, fig. 217

Repaired loss lower right corner; stain upper left corner. Lined with rice paper, restored, lower right. Tape hinged at the top.
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This undated religious text bearing no person's name or place with a long inscription and related graphic elements is surely an American piece. Its size is that of American rather than Continental paper of the era.¹The text is a hortatory reminder to remain faithful and to conquer, with paraphrases from the Revelation of Saint John. The promised crown of life is depicted. The angels of God wait for the faithful person's soul and white garments are shown on a figure caught up in heaven. Heaven is Eden restored-and the Genesis account of Adam and Eve and the snake, the tree, and fruit is paraphrased and depicted. As seems to be the case on most frakturs with heavenly and earthly elements, heaven is at the top of the page and earth at the bottom. The lack of information about the artist, the owner, his home, or the date is overshadowed by the magnificence with which the piece is endowed. -F.S.W.

¹ Continental paper was about fifteen by twelve inches. A sheet of Colonial paper was sixteen by thirteen inches and was commonly divided into halves, quarters, and eighths.