Richard Taylor

Richard Taylor was an American artist whose documented activity spanned the years 1936 through 1940. His output is centrally defined by his association with the Index of American Design (IAD), the massive visual survey of American material culture conducted under the auspices of the New Deal’s Federal Art Project. Fifteen works attributed to Richard Taylor are represented in museum collections from this period, demonstrating his role in documenting and preserving early American decorative arts.

Taylor’s submissions to the Index of American Design focused on precise, technical renderings of utilitarian and decorative objects. These detailed studies include items such as the Foot Warmer, the Wafer or Waffle Iron, the Amber Vase, and specialized domestic artifacts like the Opera Hood and the Bologna Stuffer. The documentation required for the IAD ensures that these renderings are considered museum-quality records of historical objects.

Today, Richard Taylor prints created for the Index of American Design are held in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. Due to the project’s government sponsorship, these high-quality prints often fall into the public domain, making the downloadable artwork readily accessible for historical study and research.