# Reading Lamp

**Joseph Cannella** (American, 1894–1983)  
1941  
watercolor, graphite, and gouache on paper  
overall: 56.3 x 39.5 cm (22 3/16 x 15 9/16 in.) Original IAD Object: 14" long; 20" high

Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1943.8.12768. [The museum's record](https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.24860.html).

## About this work

Joseph Cannella painted this in 1941, aged 47. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

### What you’re looking at

The image shows an antique double kerosene lamp with ornate glass chimneys set atop a horizontal cylindrical base with a central vertical support ending in a circular handle. The base and lamp parts have a bronze-like color with a textured appearance, and the glass chimneys are primarily clear but show hints of colorful reflections. Positioned centrally in the image, the lamp stands upright with the two chimneys equally spaced on either side of the vertical support, which is topped by a circular loop handle, while the signature "J. Cannella" is visible towards the lower right side of the image.

_Description from the National Gallery of Art._

### How it was made

- **Opaque watercolour.** Watercolour made opaque with white or chalk and laid in flat, even layers. Persian and Indian painters ground their colours from minerals, applied them with the finest brushes and burnished the finished page.
- **Watercolour.** Pigment in gum arabic, thinned with water and laid in transparent washes. Nothing white is painted: the light is the paper showing through.
- **Graphite.** Pencil. Graphite has been used for drawing since the 1500s; in 1795 Nicolas-Jacques Conté mixed it with clay, so its hardness could be graded.

### [Joseph Cannella](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/joseph-cannella)

American, 1894–1983

## Facts

- Type: Drawing
- The artist was 47
- Real size: about 22 × 16 in (56 × 40 cm). The 18 × 24 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 20th century
- Movement: [American folk and design](https://www.ochreeditions.com/movements/american-folk-design)
- Colour: white
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1433.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1433/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/reading-lamp-nga-24860).