Dragon and Serpent Weather Vane
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 30.5 x 45.1 cm (12 x 17 3/4 in.) Original IAD Object: 13 1/2" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16681
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Dragon and Serpent Weather V*, a captivating 1938 watercolor and graphite rendering by Betty Fuerst, 30.5 x 45.1 cm. This detailed depiction captures a whimsical folk art weather vane, originally 13 1/2 inches long, intertwined dragon and serpent motifs that evoke mythical guardians perched atop early American rooftops. Fuerst's precise technique blends soft watercolor washes with sharp graphite lines, bringing the metal original's dynamic forms and weathered patina to life on paper. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art Project under the Works Progr...
About the Artist
Betty Fuerst
Betty Fuerst (1905–1984) was an American artist best known for her meticulous watercolor renderings documenting everyday objects of American folk art and craftsmanship as part of the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942. Active primarily during this period, Fuerst contributed dozens of precise illustrations that captured th...