Eagle Stern Piece
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 34.3 x 50.8 cm (13 1/2 x 20 in.) Original IAD Object: 84" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.14889
Art Historical Context
Behold the majestic *Eagle Stern Piece*, captivating watercolor rendering by Betty Fuerst, created around 1938. This detailed depiction captures a carved wooden eagle, originally measuring 84 inches long, adorning the stern of an American vessel. Fuerst's precise work showcases the bird in dynamic flight, wings outstretched and talons gripping a globe, embodying patriotic symbolism prevalent in 19th-century nautical folk art. As part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression, this piece served a vital...
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...