Crock
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 45.6 x 36.6 cm (17 15/16 x 14 7/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 17 15/16" x 14 3/8" .455 x .366
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.5162
Art Historical Context
**Crock** by Nicholas Amantea (c. 1939) captures the humble yet enduring beauty of a traditional American earthenware crock—a sturdy pottery vessel once essential for storing food like pickles, butter, or grains in colonial and frontier homes. Rendered in watercolor, graphite, and colored pencil paperboard (45.6 x 36.6 cm), this study measures nearly life-size to the original object showcasing its simple, functional form with subtle glazes and imperfections that speak to handmade craftsmanship. Created as part of the *Index of American Design* (IAD), a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project f...
About the Artist
Nicholas Amantea
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...