Crock
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor, graphite, colored pencil, and heightening on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 29.9 x 22.5 cm (11 3/4 x 8 7/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 11 1/8" High 8 1/8" Dia(top)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.6493
Art Historical Context
Nicholas Amattea's *Crock* (c. 1936) is a meticulous rendering of a traditional American earthenware storage jar, capturing its sturdy form and subtle glazing in exquisite detail. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), this watercolor, graphite, colored pencil, and heightening on paperboard measures 29.9 x 22.5 cm, faithfully documenting an original object standing 11 1/8 inches high with an 8 1/8-inch top diameter. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, it exemplifies the IAD's mission to celebrate everyday American craftsmanship. Produced under the Federal Art Project of the...
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...