Jar

Art Historical Context

Giacinto Capelli's *Jar* (c. 1937) is a captivating rendering from the Index of American Design, a trove of meticulously documented American folk and decorative arts. Created using watercolor, gouache and pencil on paperboard this 28.4 x 22.4 cm work showcases Capelli's skill in capturing the subtle textures and vibrant colors of everyday objects, transforming a simple jar into a study of form and craftsmanship. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, exemplifies the precision of mid-20th-century artistic documentation. Produced during the Great Depression as part of the Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA), the Index employed artists like Capelli—an Italian-born illustrator renowned for his detailed realism—to record America's artistic heritage before it faded. From 1935 to 1942, over 15,000 such renderings preserved pottery, furniture, and quilts, blending employment relief with cultural preservation. This piece highlights the cultural importance of humble household items in American design, inviting us to appreciate their anonymous makers. Capelli's layered techniques—gouache for opacity, watercolor for fluidity, and pencil for fine lines—bring the jar's contours to life, offering timeless insight into our shared past.

About the Artist

Giacinto Capelli · 1855–present

**Giacinto Capelli** (American, active c. 1935–1942) contributed significantly to the documentation of American material culture through his precise watercolor renderings as part of the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Little is known about his early life or formal training, which remains sparsely documented, though his expertise in wat...