Brass Bell
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 35.5 x 26.6 cm (14 x 10 1/2 in.) Original IAD Object: 2 7/8"high; bottom 4 3/4"wide. Drawn approx. size.
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.6700
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Brass Bell*, a 1940 rendering by artists Randolph F. Miller and Kieckhofel, a humble yet elegant brass artifact (2⅞ inches high, 4¾ inches wide at the base) in watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paper. Measuring 35.5 × 26.6 cm, this work draws the object nearly life-size, showcasing its gleaming curves, textured surface, and subtle patina with remarkable precision and warmth. Created as part of the Index of American Design—a groundbreaking Works Progress Administration (WPA) project from the Great Depression era—this piece exemplifies the program's mission to document and...