Jar

Art Historical Context

Behold the exquisite rendering *Jar* by Nicholas Amantea, created around 1938 as part of the Index of American Design (IAD). This detailed, colored pencil, and work on paperboard (.6 x 353 cm) captures a yet elegant ceramic jar—originally 10 inches high with a consistent 4 5/8-inch diameter at top and base. Aman's precise depiction highlights the jar's graceful form and subtle surface details, evoking the everyday artistry of American craftsmanship. Amantea contributed to the IAD, a groundbreaking Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) from 1935 to 1942. During the Great Depression, over 200 artists produced more than 15,000 vibrant, accurate illustrations of American folk art, decorative objects, and design motifs. These works preserved cultural heritage at risk of being lost, celebrating the nation's diverse traditions from quilts to pottery. The mixed-media technique—watercolor for luminous color washes, colored pencil for fine textures, and graphite for sharp outlines—lends a lifelike quality, bridging fine art and documentation. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's collection, this piece invites us to appreciate the ingenuity of anonymous makers and the WPA's role in fostering national pride through art.

About the Artist

Nicholas Amantea · 1900–1978

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...