Design Card
Date
1875-1922
Level of description
Item
Extent and medium
Dimensions: 153mm X 245mm
Person
Creator
Royal School of Needlework: Created by the Royal School of Art Needlework as miniaturised versions of designs. Original designs were miniaturised and either traced or copied onto 'Design Cards' which were sent out to clients for next day approval. This was part of the work of the 'Painting Room' sometimes referred to as the Paintroom, the department responsible for all design and draftsmanship.
Image, Selwyn: Selwyn Image (17 February 1849 – 21 August 1930) was a designer associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement. He designed across multiple media, and is particularly known for his stained glass windows, but also designed furniture, embroidery and illustrated books. He contributed designs over a number of years to the Royal School of Art Needlework. He was also the seventh Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University of Oxford from 1910 to 1916.
Image, Selwyn: Selwyn Image (17 February 1849 – 21 August 1930) was a designer associated with the Arts and Crafts Movement. He designed across multiple media, and is particularly known for his stained glass windows, but also designed furniture, embroidery and illustrated books. He contributed designs over a number of years to the Royal School of Art Needlework. He was also the seventh Slade Professor of Fine Art at the University of Oxford from 1910 to 1916.
Scope and content
Multiple copies of design cards recording a four panel design by Selwyn Image, circa 1879, for the Royal School of Art Needlework. The design shows four full length depictions of goddesses, entitled on the design 'Juno' , 'Minerva', 'Venus', and 'Proserpine' with their motifs and symbolic animals, this design is figure 17 in The Handbook of Embroidery published by the Royal School of Art Needlework (1880).
Juno has leaves and round fruit above her and is holding in her left hand, near her head a staff with a peacock design. Also in her left hand are leads attached to two peacocks at her feet. Around her on the ground are tulips. Minerva has a partially readable inscription on a banner which is wrapped around her and she is holding around her dress, with ' nm.sapient' and 'possids' visible. (sapiens meaning wise). She has two owls partially hidden behind her skirt and has maple leaves surrounding her. Above her are leaves and round fruit. Venus has three doves, one on the ground, one behind her and one in her left hand. She is surround by leaves and round fruit above her and possible roses growing around her. She is holding a rose branch. Proserpine has a wolf at her left side, and has leaves above her, and spring flowers at her feet.
Pencil version (a) has writing 'S Image'. and 'Screen sizes No.1 each panel 3 ft 10.5 inches x 11 inches, No.2 4 foot 6 inches x 17 inches
Printed version just shows Juno (c) The design card notes it is part of a set of 4. Juno was goddess of marriage and childbirth queen of the gods and wife of Jupiter, mother of Mars, Vulcan, Bellona, Lucina and Juventas. She was the patron goddess of Rome and the Roman Empire and embodied aspects of youthfulness and femininity as well as sometimes portraying warlike attributes.
The inclusion of a single panel design card reflects the fact that customers could choose to just have their favourite goddess produced or a combination of panels, there are worked versions in private collections showing 1 and 3 panelled versions.
A large format tracing and a worked 4 panel screen by the RSN (RSN 1350) also exist in the RSN collection. This is thought to have been Selwyn Image's first design for the RSN and was first displayed at the Royal School of Art Needlework's Glasgow exhibition 'of ancient, oriental and modern embroidery' in 1879. At least 7 worked embroidered versions exist and are listed p.46 of Lynn Hulse's essay accompanying the 2011 reprint of The Royal School of Needlework's Handbook of Embroidery, 6 are in private collections and one is in the RSN's own collection (RSN 1350).
Juno has leaves and round fruit above her and is holding in her left hand, near her head a staff with a peacock design. Also in her left hand are leads attached to two peacocks at her feet. Around her on the ground are tulips. Minerva has a partially readable inscription on a banner which is wrapped around her and she is holding around her dress, with ' nm.sapient' and 'possids' visible. (sapiens meaning wise). She has two owls partially hidden behind her skirt and has maple leaves surrounding her. Above her are leaves and round fruit. Venus has three doves, one on the ground, one behind her and one in her left hand. She is surround by leaves and round fruit above her and possible roses growing around her. She is holding a rose branch. Proserpine has a wolf at her left side, and has leaves above her, and spring flowers at her feet.
Pencil version (a) has writing 'S Image'. and 'Screen sizes No.1 each panel 3 ft 10.5 inches x 11 inches, No.2 4 foot 6 inches x 17 inches
Printed version just shows Juno (c) The design card notes it is part of a set of 4. Juno was goddess of marriage and childbirth queen of the gods and wife of Jupiter, mother of Mars, Vulcan, Bellona, Lucina and Juventas. She was the patron goddess of Rome and the Roman Empire and embodied aspects of youthfulness and femininity as well as sometimes portraying warlike attributes.
The inclusion of a single panel design card reflects the fact that customers could choose to just have their favourite goddess produced or a combination of panels, there are worked versions in private collections showing 1 and 3 panelled versions.
A large format tracing and a worked 4 panel screen by the RSN (RSN 1350) also exist in the RSN collection. This is thought to have been Selwyn Image's first design for the RSN and was first displayed at the Royal School of Art Needlework's Glasgow exhibition 'of ancient, oriental and modern embroidery' in 1879. At least 7 worked embroidered versions exist and are listed p.46 of Lynn Hulse's essay accompanying the 2011 reprint of The Royal School of Needlework's Handbook of Embroidery, 6 are in private collections and one is in the RSN's own collection (RSN 1350).
Transcription
The card is printed Royal School of Art Needlework at the top, Kindly return as soon as possible at the bottom. Printed 'Painting Room' Painting, Screen set of 4, S Image, original size 3 ft 10.5 ins x 11 ins, second size 4 ft 6 ins x 17 ins,sight size - Selwyn MSD1/3c
Reference code
D1/003.a-c
© Royal School of Needlework