Cast Iron Balcony Rail
c. 1936
Medium
pen and ink and gouache on paper
Dimensions
overall: 28.7 x 40.7 cm (11 5/16 x 16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.11717
Art Historical Context
Behold the intricate *Cast Iron Balcony Rail a captivating 1936 rendering by artist Aurelia Arbo, part of the National Gallery of's esteemed Index of American Design. 28.7 x 40.7 cm, this pen-and-ink drawing heightened with gouache on paper meticulously captures the ornate flourishes of a classic American architectural element. Gouache's opaque vibrancy brings the ironwork's delicate scrolls, leaves, and geometric motifs to life, while precise ink lines highlight its forged precision—evoking the craftsmanship of 19th-century foundries. Created during the Great Depression as part of the Federa...
About the Artist
Aurelia Arbo
Aurelia Josephine Coralie Arbo (1909–1993) was an American artist and educator renowned for her contributions to the Newcomb Pottery tradition, a cornerstone of the Arts and Crafts movement in early 20th-century Louisiana. Born on November 29, 1909, in New Orleans to piano tuner Henry Arthur Arbo and Henrietta Caroline Geier, she was one of nine children in a large family that nurtured her artisti...