Hitching Post
1935/1942
Medium
watercolor, graphite, and pen and ink on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 48.8 x 36.2 cm (19 3/16 x 14 1/4 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.11446
Art Historical Context
**Hitching Post** by Michael Riccitelli created between 1935 and 1942, is a captivating rendering from the Index of American Design, a WPA Federal Art Project initiative during the Great Depression. program employed artists across the U.S. to meticulously document everyday American folk art and crafts, preserving cultural heritage through precise, colorful studies. Riccitelli's work exemplifies this mission, transforming a humble hitching post—once a vital fixture for tethering horses outside homes and businesses—into a testament to 19th-century vernacular craftsmanship. Rendered in watercolo...
About the Artist
Michael Riccitelli
**Michael Riccitelli** (American, active c. 1935) was a skilled draftsman whose precise watercolor renderings captured the essence of American folk art during the Great Depression era. Little is known about his early life or formal training, as biographical details remain scarce. He gained prominence through his contributions to the Index of American Design (IAD), a Works Progress Administration (...