Silver Candlesticks

Art Historical Context

In the meticulous graphite drawingSilver Candlesticks* (c. 1936) Giacinto Capelli, pair of elegant candicks gleams with rendered sheen on a 23 30.5 cm of paper. Measuring just8 inches high in their form, these candlest exemplify finely crafted American silver, captured with precise shading intricate detailing that highlights their proportions and ornamental motifs.elli, an artist known his technical skill in rendering objects, employs graphite to mimic reflective quality of silver, creating depth and through subtle cross-hatching tonal gradations. This is a gem from the of American Design, a Progress Administration (WPA project launched in 193 amid the Great Depression. part of the Federal Art, over 15, such renderings documented everyday folk art, crafts, design—from quilts to furniturepreserving cultural heritage for future. Capelli's contribution the program's mission to celebrate ingenuity and craftsmanship. H in the National Gallery of Art's collection, *Silver Candlesticks* invites us to appreciate how ordinary household items embodied artistic excellence and regional pride. It reminds visitors of the era's blend of work and cultural documentation, bridging art history with American identity.

About the Artist

Giacinto Capelli · 1855–present

**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...