John Tarantino

John Tarantino was an artist active in 1935, whose work is intrinsically linked to the Index of American Design (IAD). The IAD was a significant governmental project during the New Deal era, focused on documenting the history and variety of American decorative arts and folk crafts. Tarantino’s contributions to this initiative placed him among the chroniclers of early American industrial and domestic objects.

Fifteen works by Tarantino are associated with the Index of American Design project, demonstrating an expertise in rendering three-dimensional artifacts. His preserved studies often focus on glass and ceramics, including precise renderings titled Bull's Eye Glass, Bottle, Bowl, Camphene Lamp, and Crock.

These historically valuable documents are held in institutional collections, establishing their importance for the study of American material culture. Tarantino’s work is represented in collections such as the National Gallery of Art. Today, many of these John Tarantino prints and documented drawings are considered downloadable artwork, offering important visual records of American craft and often falling within the public domain.