Robert Stewart

Robert Stewart was a documentation artist active for a concentrated period between 1935 and 1936. His entire documented output is associated with the Index of American Design, a crucial Federal Art Project initiative established under the Works Progress Administration (WPA). Stewart’s role involved the precise rendering and documentation of historic American decorative arts and material culture.

During his active period, Stewart contributed fifteen documented works to the Index of American Design. These records represent detailed, factual representations of historical objects, rather than original fine art compositions. Five examples of the objects documented by Stewart include the Cobalt Pitcher, Fabric Swatches, a Japanned Coal Scuttle, a Vase, and a Barber Bottle. These historical renderings serve as definitive visual records of early American folk objects.

The permanent preservation of these works in major institutions establishes their museum-quality status. All fifteen records created by Robert Stewart are represented in the collections of the National Gallery of Art. Today, these historical documentations, often categorized as Robert Stewart prints, are valuable resources often distributed as high-quality prints and available for research and study.