Candle Stand

Art Historical Context

**Candle Stand**, a meticulous rendering by artist Paul Ward around 1938, captures the simplicity of an early American furniture piece through watercolor, graphite, and colored on paperboard (48.8 x 36.1 cm). This work belongs to the *Index of American Design*, landmark WPA Federal Art Project from the Great Depression era (1935–1942), where artists documented everyday objects to celebrate the nation's folk art heritage. Ward’s precise technique blends the fluidity of watercolor for rich tones, graphite for fine lines, and colored pencil for subtle highlights, creating a vivid, almost three-dimensional study. These renderings weren't mere sketches but scholarly records, preserving the craftsmanship of colonial-era candle stands—often turned-wood tables used for lighting in humble homes. Housed in the National Gallery of Art, this piece underscores America's cultural roots, highlighting how utilitarian designs embodied ingenuity and regional traditions. It's a window into a time when art served national pride and historical preservation, inviting us to appreciate the beauty in the everyday.

About the Artist

Paul Ward · 1855–present

Paul Ward was an American artist who contributed to the Index of American Design during the New Deal era, creating detailed watercolor renderings of American decorative objects that are now held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. His documented works include Lamp and Camphene Lamp, both rendered in watercolor and graphite on paperboard and created between 1935 and...