Leonard Battee

Leonard Battee was active in the documentation of American decorative arts during the period spanning 1937 to 1942. Battee’s known contributions are closely associated with the Index of American Design (IAD), a critical initiative within the Works Progress Administration’s Federal Art Project, which aimed to create a systematic visual record of historic American craft and folk art.

Battee contributed detailed renderings emphasizing faithful representation and technical accuracy of functional objects. Eleven such works are preserved within museum collections, establishing the historical significance and museum-quality of the documentation produced. These pieces are permanently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

The documented objects represented by Leonard Battee include foundational pieces of early American furniture and domestic utility items, such as a Chair, a Cradle, a Cobbler's Bench, a Dough Tray, and a Chest of Drawers. As these historic records are frequently designated as public domain material, researchers often seek high-quality prints of Battee's documentation. The resulting availability of downloadable artwork related to the Index of American Design has made these important Leonard Battee prints accessible for global study.