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10 Ann M. Donnell, New York Biblical Sampler, 1768 The Biblical Samplers of New York City, a fascinating and important group, was the subject of a scholarly article by Amelia Peck, curator at the Metropolitan Museum, in The Magazine Antiques, February of 2005. The earliest of these samplers, most of which are fully worked, date from 17 46 to 1768 and share the same images illustrating specific biblical stories and the same overall composition and border designs. Eleven year old Ann M. Donnell worked one of these praiseworthy samplers and dated it \samplers are in museums and those in private hands rarely become available. Ms. Peck identifies the six biblical vignettes that appear on these samplers, some of which held particular significance for the families of the samplermakers, who were part of the community of Reformed Protestants in New York in the mid 18th century. Illustrated bibles may have provided the sources for these scenes, which are: Adam and Eve with the serpent (Gen. 3: 1-6), the Parable of the Sower (Matthew 13: 3-8), Eve being created from Adam's Rib (Gen.2: 21-22), St. John the Evangelist with an Eagle Receiving the Book of Revelations on the Isle of Patmos, the Tree of Life Heavy with Fruit (Gen. 2: 9), and Jacob's Dream at Bethel (Gen. 28: 10-16). Ann included some particularly whimsical details, such as the spotted dogs and deer, large black bird, peanut-shaped clouds and spindly trees. Her needlework is very fine and even throughout. Ann M. Donnell's sampler was discussed by Betty Ring in Girlhood Embroidery, vol II, (The Biblical Samplers of Colonial and Federal New York) in conjunction with the sampler made by Elizabeth Elmendorph in 1766, in the collection of Winterthur Museu., figure 320. The sampler is fully worked in silk on linen and is in very good condition, with some loss. It has been conservation mounted and is in the 19th century frame that housed it for many years. Sampler size: 11\Price: $17,500. M. Finkel ~ Daughter. AM ERICA' s LEADING sAl\\ IPLER AI'ID NEEDL EwoRK D EALER