The Ephrata Group

Copied W. W. Swallow, The Ephrata Group, 1930s-1940s, terra cotta on wood base, 18 7⁄8 x 10 5⁄8 x 10 3⁄8 in. (47.8 x 26.9 x 26.5 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of International Business Machines Corporation, 1966.27.10

Artwork Details

Title
The Ephrata Group
Artist
Date
1930s-1940s
Location
Dimensions
18 7⁄8 x 10 5⁄8 x 10 3⁄8 in. (47.8 x 26.9 x 26.5 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of International Business Machines Corporation
Mediums
Mediums Description
terra cotta on wood base
Classifications
Subjects
  • Figure group
  • Religion
Object Number
1966.27.10
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1966.27.10

Artwork Description

Ephrata is a settlement in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, that began as a monastic colony in the 1700s. Known then as the Ephrata Cloisters, the community was founded by Johann Conrad Beissel, a German preacher and writer of hymns. The Ephrata Group shows two women and two men, with bare feet and heavy clothing. The figures’ gestures and solemn expressions suggest a moment of worship or prayer.