Melodeon
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paper
Dimensions
overall: 24 x 28.3 cm (9 7/16 x 11 1/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 31" high; 22 1/2" deep; 44 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
1943.8.12762
Art Historical Context
**Melodeon**, a captivating watercolor, graphite, and pen-and-ink rendering by Rex F. Bush 1936, meticulously documents a classic American melodeon—a reed organ popular in 19th-century homes and. Measuring 24 x 28.3 cm, this detailed drawing captures the instrument's ornate wooden case, pedal board, and decorative flourishes, based on an original object standing 31 inches high,22½ inches deep, and ½ inches wide. Bush's work highlights the craftsmanship of early American furniture and musical design, evoking the cozy parlors where families gathered for music-making. Created as part of the Inde...
About the Artist
Rex F. Bush
Rex F. Bush (c. 1915–2002) was an American artist best known for his meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project initiative under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression era. Active primarily from 1935 to 1942, Bush produced watercolor, gouache, graphite, and pen-and-ink renderings on paperboard that documented everyday American folk ...