Mug
1939
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 33.8 x 24.5 cm (13 5/16 x 9 5/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 4 1/2" high; 4 1/8" in diameter
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.17833
Art Historical Context
Behold the delicate rendering of a *Mug* by Italian-American artist Giacinto Capelli created in 1939 part of the Index of American Design. This and graphite drawing on paperboard (33.8 x 24.5 cm) captures the modest charm of an everyday ceramic vessel—originally just 4½ inches high and 4⅛ inches in diameter—elevating it to a symbol of American craftsmanshipCapelli's work belongs to the Index of American Design, a WPA Federal Art Project from the Great Depression era (1935–1942). Hundreds of artists meticulously documented thousands of folk art objects, tools, and designs across the U.S., prese...
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...