John Collins

John Collins was an artist active across an extensive period documented from 1765 to 1940. The known body of work preserved in museum collections consists primarily of designs related to American decorative arts and material culture. This collection includes seven specific entries cataloged under "Index of American Designs" and one textile object, totaling eight documented items.

The documented works showcase a variety of decorative features and crafts, emphasizing historical American design. Specific pieces represented in collections range widely in medium and application, including the textile object Copperplate Printed Cotton and the sculptural element Circus Wagon Figure: Pan. Other documented works focus on architectural or domestic decoration, such as Hand Painted Wall (Detail) and two distinct pieces titled Over Mantel Picture. These items provide invaluable source material for understanding period aesthetics and craft techniques.

Work attributed to John Collins is preserved in significant American institutions, establishing their contribution to the historical record. Pieces are held in the permanent collections of the National Gallery of Art and the Cleveland Museum of Art. The documentation of these historical works often serves as ideal reference material, with high-quality prints sometimes made available to researchers and the public.