Noah's Ark with Animals
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper
Dimensions
overall: 22.9 x 28.9 cm (9 x 11 3/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 14 3/4" long; 5 3/4" high; 4 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
1943.8.15689
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 miss...
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...