Cherry Candlestick

Art Historical Context

**Cherry Candlestick** by Mina Lowry, created around 1937, is a meticulous rendering of an exquisite American candlestick, captured in watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper (36.7 x 29.9 cm). This delicate work belongs to the Index of American Design (IAD), a landmark WPA Federal Art Project from the Great Depression era (1935–1942). Lowry, one of hundreds of skilled artists employed nationwide, contributed to this ambitious effort to document and celebrate the nation's folk, craft, and decorative arts through precise, colorful illustrations. The IAD's renderings, like this one, served as both artistic preservation and cultural advocacy, highlighting everyday objects as symbols of American ingenuity and heritage. Lowry's technique blends the fine detail of graphite and ink outlines with the luminous washes of watercolor, evoking the wood's rich cherry tones and subtle grain—qualities that underscore colonial-era craftsmanship. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, it invites us to appreciate how simple household items embodied regional traditions and skilled handiwork. Today, **Cherry Candlestick** reminds visitors of the IAD's enduring legacy: fostering national pride during tough times while creating a visual archive for future generations. A testament to Lowry's precision and the project's patriotic spirit! (198 words)

About the Artist

Mina Lowry · 1894–1942

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...