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Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Prairie Poets
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
Image courtesy of the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.

Prairie Poets

Artifact IDMO 1956.334
Object Type Drawing
Artist (American, 1910 - 1976)
Date1936
Mediumtempera on Masonite
Dimensionssheet H 28 in x W 24 1/8 in x D 1/4 in (71.1 cm x 61.3 cm x 0.6 cm )
 frame H 31 1/2 in x W 27 1/2 in x D 1 in (80 cm x 69.9 cm x 2.5 cm )
Physical Descriptiona) An original egg tempera sketch. It depicts the standing figures of Carl Sandburg with a guitar, Edgar Lee Masters holding a book, and Vachel Lindsay. In front of them is a farmer and his family seated by a plow. The artist's signature is handwritten in ink in the lower right: Mitchell Siporin '36. A paper tag fixed on the back of the Masonite indicates the piece was created for the Federal Arts Project of the WPA with the artist's name, location, as well as the title: Prairie Poets. The label includes text: to be executed in fresco. Egg Tempera Sketch for Mural.

b) The painting is accompanied by its original white-wash 2 1/8" wood frame, which is stored separately. Attached to the bottom is a brass plaque engraved: WPA ART PROGRAM.
Historical NoteThis sketch was created for the Illinois Art Project, Federal Art Project, Works Progress Administration. It was done as study for a mural to be executed in fresco.
Additional Details
Credit LineAllocated by the U.S. Government, Works Progress Administration, Federal Art Project, 1935 - 1943. Held by the Franklin D. Roosevelt Presidential Library and Museum.
National Archives Catalog CollectionFranklin D. Roosevelt Library Museum Collection (National Archives Identifier 735948)
National Archives Catalog SeriesArtifacts Relating to the New Deal (National Archives Identifier 750981)
Use Restriction StatusUnrestrictedCopyrightReproduction or other use of these holdings or images thereof is unrestricted.
In Collection(s)
Not on view
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