Spark Lamp

Art Historical Context

Behold the *Spark Lamp*, a captivating watercolor and graphite rendering by John Tarantino, created around 1936 as part of the Index of Design (IAD). This delicate depiction, measuring 28.8 x 22.8 cm (11 5/16 x 9 in.), captures a petite 3 7/8-inch-high American artifact—a testament to everyday ingenuity in lighting design. Housed in the National Gallery of Art's CG-W, it exemplifies the IAD's mission to document the nation's rich decorative arts heritage. The IAD, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration during the Great Depression (1935–1942), employed over 400 artists like Tarantino to produce precise, colorful studies of American objects, from folk crafts to modern designs. These works preserved cultural identity amid economic hardship, blending artistic skill with documentary accuracy. Tarantino's piece highlights the charm of early 20th-century American lamp design, likely evoking the sparkle of innovation in household illumination. Crafted on paperboard with watercolor's luminous washes and graphite's fine lines, the rendering achieves remarkable detail and vibrancy, making the modest lamp appear alive. Visitors will appreciate how such IAD treasures bridge art and history, inviting us to rediscover the artistry in America's past.

About the Artist

John Tarantino · 1855–present

John Tarantino was an American artist active from around 1935 to 1953, best known for his meticulous contributions to the Index of American Design, a Federal Art Project under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). This ambitious initiative commissioned artists across the United States to create precise renderings of everyday folk art objects, preserving the nation's vernacular design heritage a...