Water or Cider Jug
c. 1939
Medium
watercolor and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 58.1 x 45.5 cm (22 7/8 x 17 15/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 20 1/2" High 11" Dia(base)
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.6382
Art Historical Context
**Water or Cider Jug** *Nicholas Amantea, c. 1939* Watercolor and graphite on paperboard, 58.1 × 45.5 cm (22⅞ × 17¹⁵⁄₁₆ in.); original object: 52.1 cm (20½ in.) high, 27.9 cm (11 in.) dia. (base) *Index of American Design, National Gallery of Art* This vibrant rendering by Nicholas Amantea captures the elegance of a traditional American water or cider jug, staple of everyday life in early American households. Created around 1939, the artwork meticulously depicts the jug's sturdy form—standing about 20½ inches tall with an 11-inch base diameter—highlighting its practical design for pouri...
About the Artist
Nicholas Amantea
Nicholas Amantea (1900–1978) was an American artist born on July 13, 1900, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. His early life and artistic training are not well documented, but by the mid-1930s, he had established himself in New York City, where he contributed significantly to federal art initiatives during the Great Depression. From March 13, 1936, to July 15, 1942, Amantea worked for the Works Progress...