Jar
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor, gouache, and pencil on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 28.4 x 22.4 cm (11 3/16 x 8 13/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 9 1/2" x 6 3/4"
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.6422
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 un...
About the Artist
Giacinto Capelli
**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...