painting (oil): ["The Origin of the Stocking Loom"]

An interior with figures. On the left is a woman sitting making a stocking from blue thread. She is dressed in a green-gold brocade blouse with white lace cuffs and a stand up collar, a red overskirt, blue underskirt, red stockings and leather shoes. On her head is a lace kerchief, and at her side is a black pouch. A baby sleeps on her lap. Above her is a shelf with a jar and a bottle, and on the extreme left is a window with decorated jug on the ledge. In the centre of the picture is a man seated with his right leg under him, watching the woman work. He has a dark moustache and beard, wears a long dark coat, yellow doublet and brown hose. He leans his left arm on a carved wooden lectern: he holds a small book in his hand with his finger keeping the page. At the foot of the lectern are two large books, and fixed to the corner of it is an inkwell and quill pen. In the top right corner of the picture hangs a breastplate of armour, with a longsword and red strap. Above the figures is a yellow-green torn tapestry nailed to a rafter. (See [Keeper's] files for source of inspiration for picture.) The stocking frame was invented by Reverend William Lee of Calverton, Notts. For an engraving of this painting see NCM 1931-27., Signed bottom left: "Alfred Elmore, 1847",