Chest of Drawers
c. 1938
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, pen and ink, and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 54.5 x 45.2 cm (21 7/16 x 17 13/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 28 1/3" x 21" x 32 1/2"
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.4670
Art Historical Context
**Chest of Drawers** Francis Borelli, created around 1938, is a meticulous rendering from the Index of American Design, a WPA Federal Art Project that documented everyday American objects as cultural treasures during the Great Depression. Borelli, one of over 200 artists involved, captured the essence of a classic wooden chest measuring about 28⅓ x 21 x 32½ inches—likely a fine example of 18th- or 19th-century American furniture craftsmanship, with its graceful proportions and functional elegance. Executed in watercolor, colored pencil, pen and ink, and graphite on paperboard (54.5 x 45.2 cm)...
About the Artist
Francis Borelli
Francis Borelli is an artist for whom reliable biographical information is not currently well-documented in major art historical sources. No confirmed dates of birth or death have been established, and details regarding nationality, artistic training, and the period and place of primary activity have not been comprehensively recorded in accessible scholarly literature. Works attributed to Francis...