Name/Title
Towel, Wallhanging, Christmas: Christmas Night 215Description
A six-color silkscreen print on natural linen depicting four groups of characters from the story of the first Christmas night. From top: Shepherds look skyward amongst their flock, herald angels play trumpets, the magi stand in reverence, and Joseph leads the donkey upon which Mary rides while holding the baby Jesus, the Christmas star overhead.
At the perimeter and between the character groupings appears Luke 2:13-14 from the King James Bible. From lower left corner, as it appears in the composition intermixed with the latin:
And suddenly
a multitude
of the heavenly host
praising
God and saying
GLORIA IN EXCELSIS DEO
glory to God in the highest
ET IN TERRA PAX
and on earth peace
HOMINI BUS BONAE VOLUNTATIS
good will toward men
First produce by Country Prints c.1952, it was reissued in the 1960’s with Wert’s later standardized signature, Helvetica type in the credit line, and the © symbol. The reissue also omits the yellow from within the haloes; see separate entry for comparison.
This print was marketed for use as a kitchen towel, wallhanging, or table runner, and is described in a c.1955 price list, “215 Christmas Night — “And sudden is a multitude of the Heavenly Hosts” etc, in medieval print form is the religious theme. On fine tan linen.”
This towel/wallhanging appears in a later Country Prints promotional photo, c.1959; see images.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Robert Darr WertRole
ArtistManufacturer
Country PrintsDate made
circa 1952Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
Location
Gill MA.Continent
North AmericaNotes
Date taken from signature and coloration of a dated 1952 Country Prints Christmas greeting; see “Christmas Prints”.
Edges are straight stitched and fringed.Inscription/Signature/Marks
“CHRISTMAS NIGHT”, and “ROBERT DARR WERT by hand”, lower right corner.Dimensions
Height
26-1/2 inWidth
17 inMaterial
Unbleached Linen, Textile InkColor
Yellow, Red, Black, Brown, Blue, Light Brown
