Pitcher
c. 1937
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 28.9 x 22.5 cm (11 3/8 x 8 7/8 in.)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.10645
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the National Gallery of Art, where Giacinto Capelli's *Pitcher* (c. 1937) offers a captivating glimpse into America's design heritage. Created as part of the Index of Design—a ambitious Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA) during the Great Depression—this watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard meticulously documents a traditional American pitcher. Launched in 1935, the Index employed artists across the nation to preserve everyday objects through detailed, colorful illustrations, safeguarding cultural artifacts from potential loss amid economic h...
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...