Man with Cello
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper
Dimensions
overall: 29.3 x 22.5 cm (11 9/16 x 8 7/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 9 1/2" high; 2 1/2" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15664
Art Historical Context
"Man with Cello" a captivating rendering by artist Mina Lowry, created between 1935 and1942 as part of the Index of American Design (IAD This watercolor, graphite, and gou work on paper meticulously documents a small folk art carving—originally just 9½ inches high and 2½ inches wide—depicting a musician cradling his cello. Lowry's piece, measuring 29.3 x 22.5 cm overall, captures the whimsical charm of vernacular American craftsmanship, likely from the 19th century, highlighting everyday objects that embodied cultural identity. The IAD was a groundbreaking Federal Art Project under the Works ...
About the Artist
Mina Lowry
Mina Lowry (1894–1942), an American artist born in Canada, emerged as a prominent portrait painter whose career bridged traditional portraiture and the documentation of American folk art. Immigrating to Buffalo, New York, with her family around 1901, she honed her skills early on, winning first prize for modeling at the Albright Art School and studying under the esteemed Florence J. Bach. Lowry fu...