Marionette

1935/1942

Beverly Chichester

Associated Names
Beverly Chichester

Artist, American, active c. 1935

This is a painting of a marionette puppet design. The detailed depiction shows a marionette puppet with a large red sweater, black pants, and boots, characterized by a mustached face with prominent eyebrows. The puppet is suspended by black strings linked to numbers on the canvas. To the right, there's a schematic of the puppet’s control apparatus, with numbered components showing how the strings connect to a wooden control frame. The puppet's body and clothing are painted with vivid colors. Lines and annotations provide a technical and educational feel to the illustration.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

  • Medium

    watercolor, graphite, pen and ink, and gouache on paperboard

  • Credit Line

    Index of American Design

  • Dimensions

    overall: 44.4 x 28.6 cm (17 1/2 x 11 1/4 in.)
    Original IAD Object: 21" high

  • Accession Number

    1943.8.15643

More About this Artwork

This painting depicts an angel in flight, facing the left and playing a trumpet. The angel's wings are spread out behind them, and their feet are extended out horizontally to the right. A small rod or post extends downward from the torso of the angel. The angel is entirely painted in shades of yellow, reddish-brown, and gray, reminiscent of weathered metal with patches of rust. Small rivets are visible at joints and edges of the angel, which appears to be comprised of small panels. The background of the painting is plain beige paper.

Article:  Seven Highlights from the Index of American Design

Peer into the American past with a collection of Great Depression–era watercolors.


Artwork history & notes

Inscriptions

lower right in black ink: Beverly Chichester

Wikidata ID

Q64537630

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