Joseph Ficcadenti

Joseph Ficcadenti was an American artist active in design documentation during a focused period between 1939 and 1941. His professional output centered on the Index of American Design (IAD), a significant project initiated under the New Deal's Federal Art Project to create a comprehensive pictorial record of American material culture and decorative arts. Ficcadenti's role involved creating precise, factual illustrations that captured the detail and history of functional objects.

The works attributed to Ficcadenti reflect an interest in design history and craftsmanship rather than traditional fine art painting. Examples of the documented artifacts represented in his portfolio include the Hume Cash Register, the Wood Carving - Shell, and functional period furniture such as the Cherry Chest of Drawers. He also documented specialized objects, including the Cannon-shaped Ballot Box.

Five works by Joseph Ficcadenti are currently represented in museum collections, confirming his contribution to this seminal documentation project. His drawings are held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, establishing the historical and museum-quality value of the index. Today, much of this body of work is considered in the public domain, and is often available as downloadable artwork or high-quality prints for researchers and historians interested in American design history.