A Present from Mother

Date1848

Artist/Maker Polly Ann ("Jane") Reed

Mediumwatercolor and ink on wove paper

DimensionsPrimary Support: 14 x 14 1/2in. (35.6 x 36.8cm) and Framed: 16 1/16 x 16 7/16in.

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1962.305.2

DescriptionDelicately rendered Shaker drawing in pale colors and detailed drawings of a central "tree of life" in the shape of a flowering branch, surrounded by symbolic motifs of potted flowers, birds, crosses, a sun, a clock, an open book, a table, a figure blowing a horn, inspirational inscriptions, all encircled by decorated octagons.Label TextPolly Reed, a tailoress and a teacher at the New Lebanon, New York, Shaker community, also executed a large number of gift drawings. Featuring the tree of life at center, it is one of Reed's more complex drawings, produced toward the end of the period of Shaker revivalism when millennial laws forbidding ornament and displays were less striclty applied to inspirational drawings. Shaker artists considered themselves as mere instruments of a divine source of wisdom. This example is inscribed as if made by the founder of Shakerism, Mother Ann Lee (1753- 1784). The Mary H. to whom this work was presented was most certainly Mary Hazard (1811-1899) of New Lebanon, another well- known instrument.Mark(s)The following inscriptions appear in ink in script. In the lower left corner is "The path to my Kingdom, is pleasant and sure,/Be faithful my child, all trials to endure." In the lower right corner is "I'll watch you by day, I'll guard you by night,/I'll make you a star, to shine clear and bright." At upper center is "Come gather from my Tree of Life sweet fruit, and/eat in remembrance of Me, your Mother, when your/soul is weighed down with deep tribulation/and sorrow." Below and to left of the preceding is "Behold saith the Lord,/I will gather from the/ four quarters of the earth/many souls, and they/ shall sit down in my/Kingdom of Peace, and/ the babes of my pleasure/shall feed them." To right of the preceding is "Receive/this Lamp/from me,/says Father/William, and/ remember Christs/word to the/good Samaritan." On the pages of the book at lower center is "I will be unto thee a Parent/and thou shalt be my child/says Mother:/for thy offerings ascend/to my Throne without/spot or blemish./ Therefore let thy heart/rejoice, and thy tongue/sound forth praises to God,/while you view and/review the choice treasure/I have selected and brot/unto you from Heav-/ens bountiful stores. I/will daily send my minister-/ing doves to watch over you &/ protect you from all harm,/says your loving Mother Ann." Above the book is "A Holy Plant, And fruits of Faith." Within the heart below the book is "Blessed are they whose hearts/are steadfastly set heavenward./ Like the evergreen they shall flourish/in the sight of the Lord." Below and to each side of the heart is "Hear me mu child says Mother while I speak unto you. Tho' thy sun may appear to be going down at noon,/and the moon cease to give light, yet with an out- stretched arm and protecting hand, I will/ guide you safely thro the dark wilderness of time. Trim up your lamp and hasten/on, and I will lead you to that bright world, where sorrow/troubleth not the righteous." Within a scalloped reserve below and to left of the book is "A Present/from Mother Ann/to Mary H. /Nov 29th 1848." Above the horn blower's head below and to right of the book is "With my shrill/sounding Clavan (Clarion?)/I will fly thro' the na-/tions & sound an alarm." The banner streaming behind the horn blower reads "Freedom." One of the birds at top holds in his beak a square enclosing the words "A/Song of/Peace." Associated with various motifs scattered throughout the drawing are the words "Plumb Tree," "Tree of Life," "S i m plic- i t y," "Love," "Union," "Fair flowers from Heaven above," "Table of Wine," "Plate of Cake," "An Instrument of music/From Father James," "Cherries," "Peaches," "Basket & balls of Love," "Oranges," "Fruit of Purity," and "Fruit of Selfdenial."ProvenanceEldress Francis Hall, Hancock, Mass.; Vincent Newton, Hollywood, Ca.