Sacred Cod
1940
Medium
watercolor, graphite, gouache, and colored pencil on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 36.9 x 54.5 cm (14 1/2 x 21 7/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 3" 6" Long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.8041
Art Historical Context
Behold the *Sacred Cod*, a rendered depiction by artist John W. Kher in 1940. Created using watercolor, graphite, gouache, and pencil on paperboard (measuring 36.9 x 54.5 cm), this work captures the iconic wooden effigy—a symbol of Massachusetts' fishing heritage—originally standing 3 feet 6 inches long.oused in the National Gallery of Art Index of American Design collection it showcases Kelleher's skill in blending fine artistry with documentary precision. As part of the Federal Art under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942, the Index of American Design commissioned ove...
About the Artist
John W. Kelleher
John W. Kelleher was an American artist active from around 1935 to 1953, best known for his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Works Progress Administration (WPA) Federal Art Project that commissioned artists to create precise watercolor renderings of everyday American folk art, crafts, and decorative objects. Little is known about Kelleher's early life or formal training, as biograp...