Cemetary Wreath
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 36.7 x 50.6 cm (14 7/16 x 19 15/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16303
Art Historical Context
**Cemetery Wreath**, a delicate watercolor and graphite rendering by Al Curry from around 1938, captures intricate beauty of an American folk art object. Measuring 36.7 x 50.6 cm, this work belongs to the National Gallery Art's Index of American collection (Department CG-W). Curry's precise technique blends soft watercolor washes for vibrant hues with graphite lines for sharp details, faithfully reproducing the wreath's elaborate form—likely a traditional cemetery decoration symbolizing remembrance and mourning. Created during the Great Depression as part of the Federal Art Project under the ...
About the Artist
Al Curry
**Al Curry** (American, active c. 1935) was a skilled draftsman whose precise renderings captured the essence of American folk art and vernacular craftsmanship during the Great Depression era. Little is known about his early life or formal training, as biographical details remain sparsely documented. Curry gained prominence through his contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art P...