Jar
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 45.7 x 38 cm (18 x 14 15/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 10 1/4" High 6 1/2" Dia.(top) 8" Dia.(base)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.5168
Art Historical Context
**Jar** by Nicholas Amantea (c. 1939) is a captivating rendering from the Index of American Design, a treasure trove of American folk art documentation. Created with watercolor, colored pencil, graphite on paperboard, 45.7 x 38 cm work meticulously captures a humble ceramic jar measuring 10¼ inches high, with a 6½-inch diameter at the top and 8 at the base. Amantea’s precise technique highlights the vessel's graceful form—tapering elegantly from a wider base to a narrower neck—showcasing subtle glazes and textures that evoke everyday American craftsmanship. As part of the Federal Art Project ...
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...