Blue Glass

Art Historical Context

"Blue Glass" is a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by Nicholas Amantea, created between 1935 and1942 as part of the Index of American. This ambitious Federal Art Project, launched under the Works Progress Administration (WPA during the Great Depression, employed artists across the U.S. to document everyday American objects—from folk art to decorative crafts—through precise, colorful illustrations. Amantea's work captures the subtle elegance of a blue glass vessel, highlighting its translucent hues and form with meticulous detail on paperboard measuring 29.3 x 22.1 cm. The medium of watercolor and graphite was ideal for the Index's goal: to faithfully reproduce the texture, color, and craftsmanship of historical items that might otherwise fade from view. Watercolor's fluidity evokes the glass's reflective sheen, while graphite adds fine lines for accuracy, blending artistry with scientific precision. Over 15,000 such renderings were produced, forming a visual archive now housed in institutions like the National Gallery of Art. Today, "Blue Glass" reminds us of America's rich design heritage, celebrating humble yet beautiful objects that shaped daily life. It stands as a testament to how art served social good, preserving cultural identity amid economic hardship.

About the Artist

Nicholas Amantea · 1900–1978

Nicholas Amantea (1900–1978) was an American artist born on July 13, 1900, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His early life and artistic training are not well documented, but by the mid-1930s, he had established himself in New York City, where he contributed significantly to federal art initiatives during the Great Depression. From March 13, 1936, to July 15, 1942, Amantea worked for the Works Progress...