Replica of a Carriage
c. 1940
Medium
graphite on paper
Dimensions
overall: 23 x 30.5 cm (9 1/16 x 12 in.) Original IAD Object: 43 1/2" high
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.9192
Art Historical Context
This graphite drawing by Emilio Zito captures a replica of a historic American carriage, rendered with careful precision around 1940 Created as part of the Index of American Design, a Works Progress Administration project during the Great Depression, the work belongs to a nationwide effort to document and preserve examples of early American decorative arts and craftsmanship. The original carriage, standing 43½ inches high, likely represented vernacular design traditions that reflected everyday transportation and regional aesthetics from earlier centuries. Zito’s choice of graphite on paper al...