Rooster Weather Vane
probably 1940
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paper
Dimensions
overall: 38.3 x 53.2 cm (15 1/16 x 20 15/16 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.8060
Art Historical Context
**Rooster Weather V** *Michael Riccitelli, probably1940* Watercolor, graphite, and pencil on paper, 38.3 x 53.2 cm (15 1/16 x 20 15/16 in.) *Index of American Design, National Gallery of Art* into the vibrant world of American folk art with Michael Riccitelli's captivating rendering of a classic rooster weather vane. Created around 1940 as part of the Federal Art Project's Index of American—a WPA initiative during the Great Depression—this watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil work meticulously documents a quintessential piece of everyday Americana. Riccitelli's precise technique ca...
About the Artist
Michael Riccitelli
**Michael Riccitelli** (American, active c. 1935) was a skilled draftsman whose precise watercolor renderings captured the essence of American folk art during the Great Depression era. Little is known about his early life or formal training, as biographical details remain scarce. He gained prominence through his contributions to the Index of American Design (IAD), a Works Progress Administration (...