Horse Weather Vane
1939
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 37.5 x 56.4 cm (14 3/4 x 22 3/16 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
1943.8.16311
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Horse Weather Vane*, captivating 1939 watercolor and graphite rendering by artist Robert Barton, part of the National Gallery of's esteemed Index of American Design collection Measuring 37.5 x 56.4 cm, this detailed depiction captures a 30-inch-long original folk art weather vane, showcasing the whimsical yet functional sculptures that crowned American barns and homes for centuries. Weather vanes like this horse—poised dynamically to swivel with the wind—embodied early American ingenuity, blending practicality with artistic flair. Created under the Federal Art Project of the Works...