Grandfather Clock

Art Historical Context

**Grandfather Clock** by Ernest A. Towers Jr. (c. 1936) is a meticulous pen and ink drawing heightened with graphite on paper, measuring 35.8 x 26.4 cm. This detailed rendering captures the elegant proportions of a traditional tall case clock—standing 87 inches high, 19¼ inches wide, and ¼ inches deep—showcasing the intricate hood, arched bonnet, and turned columns typical of 18th- and 19th-century American. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a WPA Federal Art Project from 1935–1942, the work documents everyday objects of cultural significance to preserve America's design heritage during the Great Depression. Towers, a skilled draftsman, employed precise pen lines for architectural details and subtle graphite shading for depth and texture, rendering the clock's brass dial, wooden case, and ornamental finials with photographic accuracy. Grandfather clocks like this symbolize enduring family legacies and colonial craftsmanship, often made by regional cabinetmakers. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's IAD collection, it invites visitors to appreciate how such utilitarian art reflects America's inventive spirit and folk traditions. (198 words)

About the Artist

Ernest A. Towers, Jr.

Ernest A. Towers, Jr. was an American artist active during the late 1930s and early 1940s, best known for his meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambitious initiative commissioned artists across the United States to create watercolor renderings of everyday American folk art, crafts, and decorative objec...