Pitcher
c. 1940
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 30.3 x 22.9 cm (11 15/16 x 9 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.17453
Art Historical Context
Welcome visitors to the National Gallery of, where Giacinto Capelli's *Pitcher* (c. 1940) offers a captivating glimpse into America's artistic heritage. This delicate watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard, measuring just 30.3 x 22.9 cm, is part of the renowned Index of American Design—a Deal-era project from the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Launched in 1935 amid the Great Depression, the Index employed over 400 artists to meticulously document everyday objects of American folk art and craftsmanship, preserving cultural treasures through precise, colorful studies. Capelli, an...
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...