Gilt Eagle c. 1936

James H.C. Vail painted this study of a Gilt Eagle, likely in the mid-20th century. The medium is watercolor, a traditional choice for preparatory sketches due to its portability and quick-drying nature. Vail has rendered the eagle with attention to its sculpted form. You can see a separate study of the head and tail feathers below. These motifs would have been destined for transfer onto another support. The way that Vail has rendered the gilding is interesting: it is not a flat, uniform application, but a carefully modulated sheen, as if catching the light. Eagles like these were common architectural ornaments on buildings, furniture, and even vehicles. Consider that Vail may have worked for a company producing this kind of decorative item on a mass scale. The study offers an insight into the work involved in the design process, and the artistic labor that goes into creating the symbols of national identity and corporate branding.