Mug
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 28.4 x 22.9 cm (11 3/16 x 9 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.11084
Art Historical Context
**Mug** by Giacinto Capelli (c. 1937) is a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard, measuring 28.4 x 22.9 cm. Created as part of the Index of American Design—a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1942—this artwork documents everyday American objects, preserving the nation's rich tradition of folk art and craftsmanship during the Great Depression. Capelli, an Italian-American artist known for his precise draftsmanship, contributed numerous studies to this vast archive, now housed in the National Gallery of Art's Department of Modern and Contemporary Art. The...
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...