Posted 6 years ago
groveland
(25 items)
The term "theorem painting" is traced to an instruction book titled "Theoremetrical System of Painting, or Modern Plan, Fully Explained in Six Lessons and Illustrated With Eight Engravings by which a Child of Tender Years can be Taught This Sublime Art in One Week" published in 1830 by a Matthew Finn. It employed the layering of stencils upon velvet or paper to create the image. Paintings thus created are in the strictest sense, then, "theorem paintings".
A myriad of images were produced, often baskets or bowls of fruit or flowers. It was a very popular art form in the first 1/2 of the 19th century. It was practiced by artists who typically did not have formal training, most often were anonymous and female. Some were produced under the direction of an instructress as part of a young girl's education in the gentle arts.
Today, the term "theorem" seems to now be used much more broadly (and some would say rather incorrectly) to apply to a range of what is often referred to as "school girl" art. The images may be painted upon velvet, linen, paper, reverse painted upon glass (sometimes backed with foil and called a "tinsel painting") or created using embroidery, felt, beads, shells, dried flowers, etc. Depicted are some of the same basic motifs seen in true theorem paintings.
So, I'm posting 3 examples that are not truly theorem paintings in the strictest sense of the word but are representations of what would also be used in them. I especially like 3 dimensional wall art, e.g., dioramas, shadow boxes and the like so I am particular drawn to these.
I believe the first to be the earliest. It was made from felt in the late 18th or early 19th century probably in England. It is referred to as "felt work".
The second is a form of needle work executed by girls at the Moravian School in Lititz, PA, Linden Hall. It is called "ribbon work" where the 3 dimensional flowers are made from crepe. The basket they are in is stuffed to give it dimensionality. This particularly monumental one was executed by Eliza Redsecker at the tender age of 16 in 1840. That was rather late for this form. By this time, most had turned to less complicated techniques.
The third is an example from America produced in the 3rd quarter of the 19th century demonstrating the ongoing popularity of these images but produced in a manner popular at the time. It was rendered in different colors of wool thread and is often referred to as "wool work".
Groveland.
