Preserve Jar

Art Historical Context

In the Preserve Jar, created around 1940 by Chicago-based artist Frank Fumagalli, visitors encounter a meticulous watercolor and graphite rendering on paperboard that captures the humble elegance of an everyday American artifact. Measuring 22.5 x 28.9 cm, this work depicts a glass jar originally standing 9 inches high with a 4¾-inch base diameter tapering to 4 inches at the top—likely used for storing fruit preserves in early 20th-century households. Fumagalli's precise lines and subtle color washes highlight the jar's graceful curves, flared mouth, and subtle pontil mark, evoking the craftsma...

About the Artist

Frank Fumagalli

Frank Fumagalli (c. 1895–1958) was an Italian-born American artist whose precise watercolor renderings captured the essence of everyday American folk art objects during the mid-20th century. Little is known about his early life and training, as biographical details remain scarce beyond his immigration from Italy and establishment in the United States. Active primarily in New York, Fumagalli gained...