Chalkware Figure - Mary and Her Sheep
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
sheet: 27.5 × 21.5 cm (10 13/16 × 8 7/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.9932
Art Historical Context
Behold the delicate charm of *Chalkware Figure - Mary and Her Sheep*, a circa 1939 watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard by artist Mina Lowry. Measuring 27.5 × 21.5 cm, this intimate work captures the whimsical details of a traditional chalkware figurine—a painted plaster sculpture depicting the biblical Mary tending her flock. Lowry's precise graphite outlines and soft watercolor washes bring the figure's pastoral innocence to life, highlighting its molded form, vibrant colors, and gentle narrative. Created as part of the Index of American Design, a landmark WPA Federal Art Project...
About the Artist
Mina Lowry
Mina Lowry (1894–1942), an American artist born in Canada, emerged as a prominent portrait painter whose career bridged traditional portraiture and the documentation of American folk art. Immigrating to Buffalo, New York, with her family around 1901, she honed her skills early on, winning first prize for modeling at the Albright Art School and studying under the esteemed Florence J. Bach. Lowry fu...