Horse Weather Vane
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 38.2 x 47.3 cm (15 1/16 x 18 5/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 30" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16223
Art Historical Context
Behold the spirited *Horse Weather Vane*, captivating watercolor, graphite, and gouache by artist Chris Makrenos, around 1937. Measuring 38.2 x 47.3 cm, this detailed depiction captures a dynamic, 30-inch-long folk art weather vane—likely a 19th-century American original—poised in mid-gallop atop a traditional directional arrow. The horse's flowing mane, alert ears, and muscular form evoke the pride of early American craftsmanship, where such vanes adorned barns and rooftops, blending utility with whimsical artistry. As part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a groundbreaking WPA Federal ...
About the Artist
Chris Makrenos
Chris Makrenos was an American artist active in the mid-twentieth century who contributed a substantial body of work to the Index of American Design, the New Deal-era federal project that documented American folk art and decorative culture through meticulous watercolor illustration. His works are held in the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and span a wide range of subjects drawn from ...