Portrait
c. 1936
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 35.6 x 27.2 cm (14 x 10 11/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 8" high; 9 3/4" wide
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.12828
Art Historical Context
Behold William Vergani's *Portrait* (c. 1936), a meticulous watercolor and graphite rendering on paper measuring 35.6 x 27.2 cm. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), this work documents a modest American artifact—a portrait originally 8 inches high by 9¾ inches wide—capturing its essence with delicate precision. Vergani, an accomplished illustrator, employed soft washes of watercolor to evoke the object's textures and hues, overlaid with fine graphite lines for sharp detail, transforming a humble folk item into a vibrant study. The IAD, launched in 1935 under the Works Progr...