Quilt
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 48.5 x 45.9 cm (19 1/8 x 18 1/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.472
Art Historical Context
Behold the intricate *Quilt* (c. 1938), a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by artist Clyde L. Cheney. 48.5 x 45.9 cm, this drawing faithfully captures the vibrant patterns and textures of a traditional American quilt, showcasing Cheney's skill in translating fabric artistry onto paper. The use of watercolor brings the quilt's rich colors to life, while graphite adds precise lines for folds, stitches, and motifs—highlighting the medium's power to preserve ephemeral folk crafts. Created as part of the Index of American Design, a Depression-era Works Progress Administration (WPA) in...
About the Artist
Clyde L. Cheney
Clyde L. Cheney is an artist about whom little is currently known. No dates of birth or death have been established, and his nationality and artistic training are not documented in surviving historical records. With nearly fifty works attributed to him in institutional collections, Cheney's output points to an active career. The middle initial suggests a deliberate professional identity, but corr...