Collections record Beta

Needlework - "The Cottage Girl"

1989-01-1

Picture depicts a girl holding a large bundle of sticks in her left hand, a basket in her right. She is shoeless, with a simple dress and shawl. Large trees behind girl on her right, house with fence on her left. Outside of oval, at top of piece floral garland from left to right. At bottom left to right corners cornucopia containing grapes, strawberries and wheat. Colors of pictures are brown, greens, beiges with reds and blues. Signed below center medallion, "CYRINTHIA S. SMITH/A.D. 1802." Giltwood frame with egg and dart molding around interior. Glass eglomise of black with gold border, decorations, and lettering "THE COTTAGE GIRL."

One of three versions of "The Cottage Girl" made at Sarah Pierce's Litchfield Female Academy. The example worked by Ruth A. Cooke is also in the LHS collection (2024-18-2); the version by Nancy Hale is in the collection of the Connecticut Museum of Culture and History. All three are likely based on an aquatint of the same name by J. Le Petit (see 1992-18-03).

Cyrinthia Smith attended the Litchfield Female Academy in 1802.

• Smith, Cyrinthia Sacretia, 1788-1864

1802

21 1/2" x 18" framed

• silk
• watercolor