Jug
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 45.8 x 37.1 cm (18 1/16 x 14 5/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 12 3/8" High
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.7065
Art Historical Context
Behold the elegant *Jug*, a meticulously rendered study by Italian-American artist Giacinto Cap, created around 1939. This, graphite, and colored pencil work onboard (45.8 37.1 cm captures the form and subtle glazes of an everyday American ceramic vessel, originally standing 12 3/8 inches high. Part of the National Gallery of's collection, it exemplifies the precision of Capelli's draftsmanship, blending fluid washes of watercolor for depth and luminosity with the fine lines of graphite and colored pencil for intricate details. This artwork belongs to the *Index of American Design*, landmark ...
About the Artist
Giacinto Capelli
**Giacinto Capelli** (American, active c. 1935–1942) contributed significantly to the documentation of American material culture through his precise watercolor renderings as part of the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Little is known about his early life or formal training, which remains sparsely documented, though his expertise in wat...