Pa. German Prince Charles Spaniel

Art Historical Context

Behold the charming *Pa. German Prince Charlesiel*, a 1940 watercolor, graphite, and pen-and-ink rendering by artist Mina Lowry. This delicate work on paperboard (29.3 x 22.9 cm) captures whimsical spirit of a traditional Pennsylvania German folk art carving—a beloved spaniel breed known for its perky ears and expressive gaze. Lowry's meticulous technique blends soft watercolor washes for vibrant fur and glossy highlights with precise graphite shading and ink outlines, faithfully reproducing the original object's modest scale (about 6 inches high) in exquisite detail. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (1935–1942), this piece reflects a national effort to document and celebrate America's folk art heritage amid the Great Depression. The IAD commissioned artists like Lowry to produce accurate, colorful plates of everyday objects, preserving cultural artifacts for future generations. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, it exemplifies how these renderings bridged fine art and craft, elevating regional traditions to museum-worthy status. Pennsylvania German (or "Pennsylvania Dutch") carvings like this spaniel, often brightly painted wooden figures from the 18th and 19th centuries, symbolized prosperity and affection for pets. Lowry's artwork not only revives this folk motif but invites us to appreciate its joyful naivety and the enduring appeal of American vernacular design.

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...