Chest (Front View)
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, gouache, and pen and ink on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 24.5 x 35.4 cm (9 5/8 x 13 15/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 48 1/4"long; 19"wide; 32 1/2"high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.4632
Art Historical Context
Behold Lawrence Flynn's *Chest (Front View)* (c. 1936), a meticulous rendering capturing the elegant front of an American chest measuring 48¼ inches long, 19 inches wide, and 32½ inches high. Created with watercolor, gouache, pen, and ink on paperboard (24.5 × 35.4 cm), this work exemplifies the precision of Flynn's hand in documenting the chest's intricate details—from its carved motifs to its rich patina—evoking the craftsmanship of early American furniture makers. This artwork is a gem from the Index of American Design (IAD), a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project launched in 1935 amid t...
About the Artist
Lawrence Flynn
Lawrence Flynn (1900–1973) was an American artist born in New Haven, Connecticut, where he attended the city's public schools. He pursued formal art training at the Art Students League in New York, studying anatomy under the renowned instructor George B. Bridgman, whose anatomical teachings profoundly influenced generations of artists. Flynn also honed his skills at the Yale School of Fine Arts, t...