Goblet c. 1936

Giacinto Capelli made this watercolor of a goblet at an unknown date. The simplicity of the form and the way it’s rendered in thin, translucent layers of teal is really something. You know, like a painter letting the process breathe on the page. Looking closely, the paint has a watery quality. It’s almost as if the goblet itself is made of the same substance it's been painted with. See how the artist captured light passing through the glass, with subtle gradations of tone? And the little imperfections, those tiny air bubbles trapped inside the glass, add a lovely sense of character. The base has a pleasing symmetry. The top, however, is slightly uneven, as if the glassblower had to make a quick decision about how to finish the piece! The gentle approach reminds me of Giorgio Morandi, who often painted humble, everyday objects with a quiet sense of reverence. It feels like a meditation on form, light, and the simple beauty of things. There's a generosity to that, don't you think?