Wellington Blewett

Wellington Blewett was an artist active during a short, concentrated period between 1935 and 1936. Blewett’s output is directly associated with the Index of American Design (IAD), a seminal federal arts initiative dedicated to documenting historic American decorative arts and material culture.

Fifteen works attributed to the artist are preserved in institutional collections, primarily focusing on detailed studies of everyday and functional objects. These high-quality documentary works often record items with specific regional or historical provenance. Notable recorded objects represented in the archive include the studies Salt Shaker, Bed, and Bell - From Swedish Church. Blewett also documented artifacts specific to the Bishop Hill community, including Bishop Hill: Bed and Bishop Hill: Chair.

The documentation produced by Blewett is represented in major holdings, establishing their museum-quality standing. The National Gallery of Art holds numerous examples of Blewett’s IAD studies. Given the nature and age of the Index of American Design works, many of these detailed records are now available in the public domain. Interest in historical Wellington Blewett prints remains strong for academic and historical reference.