Pitcher

Art Historical Context

Welcome visitors to the National Gallery of, where Giacinto Capelli's *Pitcher* (c. 1940) offers a captivating glimpse into America's artistic heritage. This delicate watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard, measuring just 30.3 x 22.9 cm, is part of the renowned Index of American Design—a Deal-era project from the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Launched in 1935 amid the Great Depression, the Index employed over 400 artists to meticulously document everyday objects of American folk art and craftsmanship, preserving cultural treasures through precise, colorful studies. Capelli, an Italian-born artist active in the U.S., masterfully combined translucent watercolor washes for vibrant hues with fine graphite lines for intricate details, capturing the pitcher's form, texture, and decorative motifs. This technique not only highlighted the object's functionality and aesthetic appeal—likely a humble yet elegant vessel from early American pottery traditions—but also elevated utilitarian design to fine art. As a cornerstone of the Index, now housed in the Gallery's collection, *Pitcher* underscores the era's commitment to celebrating national identity through craft. It reminds us how ordinary items embody history, inviting reflection on the artistry in the everyday.

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...