Who created "Theatre Box,"?

Theatre Box, was created by Perkins Harnly in c. 1947.

When was "Theatre Box," created?

This artwork was created c. 1947.

What medium is "Theatre Box,"?

Theatre Box, is watercolor, gouache, pen and ink, and graphite on paper.

Is "Theatre Box," in the public domain?

Yes, Theatre Box, is in the public domain and available for free download under CC0 license.

Theatre Box, 1892

Perkins Harnly

c. 1947

Medium

watercolor, gouache, pen and ink, and graphite on paper

Dimensions

overall: 47 x 77.8 cm (18 1/2 x 30 5/8 in.)

Classification

Index of American Design

Department

CG-W

Museum

National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Credit

Gift of Albert Lewin

Accession Number

1947.1.22

Art Historical Context

**Theatre Box, 1892** is a captivating rendering by Perkins Harnly, created around 1947 as part of the Index of American Design. This detailed watercolor, gouache, pen and ink and graphite work on paper (47 x 77.8 cm) meticulously captures a miniature theatre box scene from 1892, evoking whimsical world of Victorian-era dioramas. Harnly, a skilled illustrator known for his precision, brings to life the intricate costumes, props, and staging of this tiny theatrical vignette, blending nostalgia with artistic accuracy. Produced under the Federal Art Project of the Works Progress Administration (...

About the Artist

Perkins Harnly · 1901–1986

Perkins Harnly was born on October 14, 1901, on a cattle ranch in the rugged plains of Ogallala, Nebraska—the same year Queen Victoria died, an irony that foreshadowed his lifelong obsession with Victorian opulence. Leaving behind the stark Midwest, he ventured to Los Angeles in 1922, spending six years there before settling in New York City in 1928. There, Harnly studied at the School of Interior...

Theatre Box, 1892

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