Toby Pottery Jug c. 1938

This watercolor painting by Katharine Merrill, dated circa 1938, showcases a detailed study of a Toby jug. The central focus is a realistic depiction of a brown, earthenware jug with a sculpted face on one side and a rounded, ridged handle. Surrounding this image are four pencil sketches, offering different perspectives of the jug, including a side profile, a top view, and a close-up of the face. Merrill’s masterful use of light and shadow in the watercolor gives the jug a sense of dimensionality and adds a touch of realism to the artwork.