Needlework picture

This delicate floral needlework picture, signed in stitching by its maker Anna Williams (ca. 1791-1823) is one of only two known silk embroideries from the short-lived (ca. 1801-02) ladies academy run by Mrs. Judith Saunders in Gloucester, Massachusetts. It is in its original gilded frame, with a reverse-painted glass verre eglomise matte, on which is written "Wrought at Mrs. Saunder’s [sic] Academy." It was designed to be hung "on point", or in a diamond hanging position. While this is common for eighteenth-century American coats of arms, and earlier European mourning hatchments, it is unique for floral silk embroideries of early Federal period like this one. However, when at Mrs. Saunders Academy, Anna also completed an embroidered coat of arms for her step-father, Winthrop Sargent IV (1753-1820), and the two pieces were likely meant to hang together. In 1803, a year after this was made, Mrs. Saunders joined with Clementina Beach to found Mrs. Saunders’ & Miss Beach’s Academy in Dorchester, Massachusetts, one of the best known and longest running New England female academies (1803-1846).