Grandfather Clock
c. 1936
Medium
pen and ink and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 35.8 x 26.4 cm (14 1/8 x 10 3/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 87"high; 19 1/4"wide; 9 1/4"deep
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.4834
Art Historical Context
**Grandfather Clock** by Ernest A. Towers Jr. (c. 1936) is a meticulous pen and ink drawing heightened with graphite on paper, measuring 35.8 x 26.4 cm. This detailed rendering captures the elegant proportions of a traditional tall case clock—standing 87 inches high, 19¼ inches wide, and ¼ inches deep—showcasing the intricate hood, arched bonnet, and turned columns typical of 18th- and 19th-century American. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a WPA Federal Art Project from 1935–1942, the work documents everyday objects of cultural significance to preserve America's design ...
About the Artist
Ernest A. Towers, Jr.
Ernest A. Towers, Jr. was an American artist active during the late 1930s and early 1940s, best known for his meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambitious initiative commissioned artists across the United States to create watercolor renderings of everyday American folk art, crafts, and decorative objec...