The Indian Princess

Unknown

ca. 1750 · Wool and silk on linen, embroidered · The American Wing

This piece is one of five known versions of this design completed by young ladies at school in Boston. All feature the rather large upright shepherdess with her smaller shepherd suitor in a black hat to one side. The Museum’s shepherdess traditionally has been called the Indian Princess because of what appears to be a feathered headdress peeking out from behind her hair. In the eighteenth century an Indian princess was an understood symbol for the American colonies.

Artist

Unknown

Date

ca. 1750

Medium

Wool and silk on linen, embroidered

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. Screven Lorillard, 1953