
Read the visual description
This is a painting of a marionette puppet design. The painting depicts a detailed, full-body illustration of a puppet with strings attached, dressed in a green costume with pink accents. The puppet has an exaggerated facial expression, with a wide smile and rosy cheeks, characteristic of a traditional caricature or clown. It stands on a small block, suggesting movement or performance. Beside the puppet are detailed sketches of the puppet's head in profile and its operating mechanism, showing the wooden control bars used for manipulation. The painting also focuses on the intricate detailing of the puppet's clothing and joints, indicating a functional and artistic design.
National Gallery of Art · Index of American Design
"Juggling" Marionette
James McLellan
- Date
- c. 1936
- Medium
- watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paperboard
- Dimensions
- overall: 53.3 x 38.3 cm (21 x 15 1/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 25" high
- Classification
- Index of American Design · Drawing
- Accession number
- 1943.8.15674
- Credit line
- Index of American Design
- Time span
- 1926 to 1950
- Department
- CG-W
Subjects and terms
- American
Inscription
lower left in black ink: James McLellan
NGA object ID 27765. 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.