Over Mantel Picture
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 44.7 x 69.5 cm (17 5/8 x 27 3/8 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.15978
Art Historical Context
"Over Mantel Picture" is a meticulous rendering by artist John Collins, created around 1939 as part of the Index of American Design (IAD). This WPA-era project commissioned artists to document America's rich folk art and decorative traditions through precise, colorful illustrations. Collins captured the essence of an overmantel—a charming, naive-style artwork traditionally placed above fireplaces in colonial-era homes, often depicting idyllic landscapes, harbors, or patriotic scenes. Executed in watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paperboard (44.7 x 69.5 cm), the piece exemplifies the IAD's ...