Weather Vane
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 35.3 x 45.3 cm (13 7/8 x 17 13/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 14 1/8" long; 10 7/8" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.16199
Art Historical Context
**Weather Vane** by Mina Lowry, created around 1938, captures the whimsical charm of an American folk art object through delicate watercolor and graphite on paperboard. Measuring 35.3 x 45.3 cm, this rendering depicts a 14 1/8-inch-long, 10 7/8-inch-high weather vane, a functional yet artistic fixture common on colonial barns and homes. Lowry's precise technique blends soft washes of color with fine graphite lines, highlighting the vane's sculptural details—likely a rooster or directional figure—evoking the craftsmanship of early American makers. As part of the Index of American Design (IAD),...
About the Artist
Mina Lowry
Mina Lowry (1894–1942), an American artist born in Canada, emerged as a prominent portrait painter whose career bridged traditional portraiture and the documentation of American folk art. Immigrating to Buffalo, New York, with her family around 1901, she honed her skills early on, winning first prize for modeling at the Albright Art School and studying under the esteemed Florence J. Bach. Lowry fu...