Weather Vane Finial
c. 1937
Medium
graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 22.9 x 29.2 cm (9 x 11 1/2 in.) Original IAD Object: 12 1/2" high; 25" long
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16224
Art Historical Context
Behold the intricate *Weather Vane Finial*, a meticulous graphite drawing on paper by Isidore Sovensky, created around 1937. Measuring 22.9 x 29.2 cm (9 x 11½ in.), this work captures the elegant form of an original object standing 12½ inches high and 25 inches long—a decorative crowning element for a traditional American weather vane. Sovensky, a skilled renderer, renders every curve and contour with precision, highlighting the craftsmanship of vernacular American design. This artwork is a gem from the Index of American Design (IAD), a landmark Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Ad...
About the Artist
Isidore Sovensky
Isidore Sovensky is an artist whose life and career remain poorly documented in the historical record. No confirmed birth or death dates have been established, and the precise national or cultural context in which he worked is uncertain. The surviving works attributed to him suggest activity during the nineteenth century, but the specifics of his training, patrons, and professional milieu have yet...