Polly Collins (1808-1884) was a Shaker artist who made gift drawings, which were depictions of spiritual messages during the Era of Manifestations in the mid-1800s.
Polly Collins was born in Cambridge, New York. Her family moved to Massachusetts in 1820 and joined the Hancock Shaker Village.[1] Collins remained a member, or believer, of the Shakers throughout the remainder of her lifetime. She took care of young girls at the community during part of her time there.[1]
The Brick Dwelling for the Church Family at Hancock Shaker Village, where Polly Collins lived
Gift drawingsedit
Between 1841 and 1859, Collins made 16 watercolor "gift drawings" as the result of spiritual revelations during the Shaker's Era of Manifestations.[1] During that time:
...intense spiritual fervor gripped the Shaker communities. According to tradition, heavenly spirits descended to earth, bearing gifts of visions, hymns, dances and drawings. Mother Ann Lee was prominent among the spirits that appeared to the mediums, or "instruments".
An Emblem of the Heavenly Sphere in 1854. She created different scenes within blocks in a grid. In the center, a choir of heavenly figures includes Jesus, the apostles, Mother Ann Lee, and Christopher Columbus. Surrounding this image were scenes like The Celestial Plum, Flower of Eden,Forgiveness and Repentance.[1]
In 1859 Collins made a drawing of the Tree of Comfort with a vision for a Gift from Mother Ann to Eldress Eunice. The period where spiritual visions were captured in song or drawings, called the Era of Manifestations, was also called the "period of Mother's work", referring to Mother Ann Lee, whose departed spirit was believed to have passed messages to the Skaker "instruments" who believed and received such messages. This work was a variation of the common Shaker motif Tree of Life, such as the depictions made by Hannah Cohoon. It was one of Collin's most notable and recognizable works.[2]
Polly Collins, Wreath brought by Mother's little dove, date unknown
Polly Collins, 1st My Children Dear, Whom I Do Love, watercolor, 1854, Hancock Shaker Village, Berkshire County, Massachusetts
Polly Collins, Tree of comfort, a Gift from Mother Ann to Eldress Eunice, August, 1859. Collection of the Shaker Library, United Society of Shakers, Sabbathday Lake, Maine
Key artists from the Shaker community were Collins, Hannah Cohoon, and Joseph Wicker. The Era of Manifestations ended when Shaker community members became embarrassed by the "emotional excesses and mystical expressions of this period."[3]
Referencesedit
^ abcdGerard C. Wertkin; Lee Kogan; American Folk Art Museum. Encyclopedia of American Folk Art. Taylor & Francis; 2004. ISBN978-0-415-92986-8. p. 476.
^ abChristian Becksvoort. The Shaker Legacy: Perspectives on an Enduring Furniture Style. Taunton Press; 2000. ISBN978-1-56158-357-7. p. 40–41.
^David A. Schorsch and Ruth Wolfe. A Cutwork Tree of Life in the manner of Hannah Cohoon. AFANews. February 23, 2013. Retrieved March 23, 2014.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Polly Collins.
March 18, 2024
polly, collins, 1808, 1884, shaker, artist, made, gift, drawings, which, were, depictions, spiritual, messages, during, manifestations, 1800s, born1808cambridge, yorkdied1884hancock, massachusettsnationalityamericanknown, forpaintingmovementshaker, gift, drawi. Polly Collins 1808 1884 was a Shaker artist who made gift drawings which were depictions of spiritual messages during the Era of Manifestations in the mid 1800s Polly CollinsBorn1808Cambridge New YorkDied1884Hancock MassachusettsNationalityAmericanKnown forPaintingMovementShaker gift drawings Contents 1 Personal life 2 Gift drawings 3 References 4 External linksPersonal life editPolly Collins was born in Cambridge New York Her family moved to Massachusetts in 1820 and joined the Hancock Shaker Village 1 Collins remained a member or believer of the Shakers throughout the remainder of her lifetime She took care of young girls at the community during part of her time there 1 nbsp The Brick Dwelling for the Church Family at Hancock Shaker Village where Polly Collins livedGift drawings editBetween 1841 and 1859 Collins made 16 watercolor gift drawings as the result of spiritual revelations during the Shaker s Era of Manifestations 1 During that time intense spiritual fervor gripped the Shaker communities According to tradition heavenly spirits descended to earth bearing gifts of visions hymns dances and drawings Mother Ann Lee was prominent among the spirits that appeared to the mediums or instruments Christian Becksvoort 2 An Emblem of the Heavenly Sphere in 1854 She created different scenes within blocks in a grid In the center a choir of heavenly figures includes Jesus the apostles Mother Ann Lee and Christopher Columbus Surrounding this image were scenes like The Celestial Plum Flower of Eden Forgiveness and Repentance 1 In 1859 Collins made a drawing of the Tree of Comfort with a vision for a Gift from Mother Ann to Eldress Eunice The period where spiritual visions were captured in song or drawings called the Era of Manifestations was also called the period of Mother s work referring to Mother Ann Lee whose departed spirit was believed to have passed messages to the Skaker instruments who believed and received such messages This work was a variation of the common Shaker motif Tree of Life such as the depictions made by Hannah Cohoon It was one of Collin s most notable and recognizable works 2 nbsp Polly Collins Wreath brought by Mother s little dove date unknown nbsp Polly Collins 1st My Children Dear Whom I Do Love watercolor 1854 Hancock Shaker Village Berkshire County Massachusetts nbsp Polly Collins Tree of comfort a Gift from Mother Ann to Eldress Eunice August 1859 Collection of the Shaker Library United Society of Shakers Sabbathday Lake MaineKey artists from the Shaker community were Collins Hannah Cohoon and Joseph Wicker The Era of Manifestations ended when Shaker community members became embarrassed by the emotional excesses and mystical expressions of this period 3 References edit a b c d Gerard C Wertkin Lee Kogan American Folk Art Museum Encyclopedia of American Folk Art Taylor amp Francis 2004 ISBN 978 0 415 92986 8 p 476 a b Christian Becksvoort The Shaker Legacy Perspectives on an Enduring Furniture Style Taunton Press 2000 ISBN 978 1 56158 357 7 p 40 41 David A Schorsch and Ruth Wolfe A Cutwork Tree of Life in the manner of Hannah Cohoon AFANews February 23 2013 Retrieved March 23 2014 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Polly Collins Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Polly Collins amp oldid 1190234793, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
