This is a drawing of an ornamental architectural fragment. The drawing presents a piece of decorative architecture, possibly a segment of a frieze or molding, featuring scrollwork and leaf motifs. The object is illustrated with fine detail, highlighting the three-dimensional qualities and elaborate curves of the design. The composition places the focus on the object itself, absent of any background, drawing attention to the craftsmanship of the ornamental piece. The use of shading and contrast helps to convey the texture and depth of the carving, capturing the elegance and complexity typical of classical architectural elements.
Read the visual description

This is a drawing of an ornamental architectural fragment. The drawing presents a piece of decorative architecture, possibly a segment of a frieze or molding, featuring scrollwork and leaf motifs. The object is illustrated with fine detail, highlighting the three-dimensional qualities and elaborate curves of the design. The composition places the focus on the object itself, absent of any background, drawing attention to the craftsmanship of the ornamental piece. The use of shading and contrast helps to convey the texture and depth of the carving, capturing the elegance and complexity typical of classical architectural elements.

National Gallery of Art · Index of American Design

Billethead

Frances Cohen and Joseph Goldberg

Date
c. 1940
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 54 x 37.6 cm (21 1/4 x 14 13/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 24 3/4" long
Classification
Index of American Design · Drawing
Accession number
1943.8.8698
Credit line
Index of American Design
Time span
1926 to 1950
Department
CG-W

Subjects and terms

  • American

NGA object ID 20895. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.