Fine and Rare Embroidered and Painted Silk Picture

Kenneth Snow at the Boston Ellis Antiques Show, October 23, 1984;

Sotheby's, New York, Important American Schoolgirl Embroideries: The Landmark Collection of Betty Ring, January 22, 2012, sale 8832, lot 632.

Betty Ring, American Needlework Treasures: Samplers and Silk Embroideries from the Collection of Betty Ring at the Museum of American Folk Art, (New York: E.P. Dutton, 1987), p. 98, fig. 157;

Lita Solis-Cohen, "The Betty Ring Sale," Maine Antique Digest, March 16, 2012.

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 the Magazine Antiques (February 1981) 420-3; (September 1985) 526-7; (October 1986) 646-7.