Plate

Art Historical Context

This exquisite rendering of a *Plate* by Giacintoelli, created in 1939, the intricate beauty of an American-designed ceramic dish measuring 12 inches in diameter Executed in watercolor, graphite, and and ink on paper (27.9 x 35.5 cm), it showcases Capelli's meticulous hand in preserving everyday objects as fine art. Part of the National Gallery of Art's collection, this work belongs to the Index American Design (IAD), a treasure trove documenting the nation's decorative heritage. The IAD, launched in 1935 under the Works Progress Administration's Federal Art Project during the Great Depression, employed over 400 artists to produce thousands of such detailed studies. These vibrant, accurate depictions—from colonial silver to folk pottery—served as a cultural inventory, safeguarding designs at risk of loss amid economic hardship and modernization. Capelli's contribution highlights the plate's ornamental motifs, blending utility with artistry in the American tradition. Through layered watercolor for luminous color, fine graphite shading, and precise ink lines, Capelli elevates a humble plate into a study of craftsmanship. Today, it invites visitors to appreciate how ordinary objects reflect our shared history, bridging past ingenuity with present admiration.

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...