Noah's Ark with Animals

Art Historical Context

Behold *Noah's Ark with Animals*, a charming watercolor, graphite, and gouache by Mina Lowry, created around 1936. This delicate work on paper (22.9 x 28.9 cm) captures a Noah's Ark toy—measuring 14¾ inches long, 5¾ high, and 4½ inches wide—complete with pairs of animals boarding the vessel. Lowry's precise yet lively depiction evokes the biblical story while highlighting the playful craftsmanship of American folk art objects from the era. As part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA), this piece served a vital cultural mission during the Great Depression. Artists like Lowry meticulously documented everyday American design—folk toys, quilts, and carvings—to preserve the nation's artistic heritage and foster national pride. The IAD's 15,000+ watercolors, now housed in collections like the National Gallery of Art, celebrate regional creativity and the handmade traditions of ordinary Americans. Lowry's masterful use of watercolor for vibrant animal coats, gouache for bold outlines, and graphite for fine details showcases the hybrid technique ideal for IAD records. It bridges fine art and documentation, inviting us to appreciate how a child's toy could embody storytelling, faith, and ingenuity in 19th- or early 20th-century America. A delightful window into our shared past!

About the Artist

Mina Lowry · 1894–1942

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...