Artist/Maker

Eppes, Lucy Ballard

Place Made

Date Made

1816

Medium

silk on linen

Dimensions

HOA: 13 1/4″ WOA: 19 3/4″

Accession Number

5800.7

Description

MAKER: Lucy Ballard Eppes (c.1804-1857) was the daughter of Peter (1759-1828) and Lucy (Ballard) Eppes (1764-1844) of Charles City County, Virginia. The family moved to Richmond, Virginia, in 1816. Lucy married William B. Rose in December of 1822 in Richmond. After his death she married Richard Williams (1810-1887) of Richmond, Virginia, in February 1834. The couple subsequently moved to Lynchburg, Virginia. She died on October 6, 1857 and was buried in Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond.

DESCRIPTION: This sampler stitched by Lucy Ballard Eppes includes cross, eyelet, queen, four-sided, and rice stitches in silk on a linen ground. The composition features alphabet and numerical sequences including the inscription “Lucy Ballard Eppes 1816” and further documentation of “Richmond Virginia”.

Also listed are the following family members: “Peter Eppes agd 53/Lucy Eppes agd 48/John T Eppes/Peter T Eppes/Littlebury R Eppes/Mary Eppes/Elizabeth Eppes/Lucy B Eppes/Sarah T Eppes/Angelica Eppes”

Inscribed is the following poem entitled “Encompassed in an Angel’s Frame” written by British General John Burgoyne (1722-1792). It is partially quoted on the sampler as follows:
“Encompassed in an angels frame
An angels virtue lay
Too soon did Heaven assert its claim
And call its own away.
My An “

History

Credit Line

MESDA Purchase Fund