Sanctuary Table

Art Historical Context

**Sanctuary Table** *Dayton Brown, 1936* Watercolor, colored pencil, graphite on paper, 33.1 × 25.7 cm (13 1/16 × 10 1/8 in.) *Index of American Design, National Gallery of Art* Created by artist Dayton Brown in 1936, *Sanctuary Table* a meticulous rendering of an American furniture piece, originally measuring 29 1/8 inches long, 17 7/8 inches wide, and 23 7/8 inches high. watercolor for vibrant hues, colored pencil for fine details, and graphite for precise lines, Brown's work captures the table's form and craftsmanship with scientific accuracy. This mixed-media technique was ideal for documenting three-dimensional objects on a flat surface, preserving subtle textures and proportions. As part of the *Index of American Design*—a groundbreaking WPA Federal Art Project from 1935 to 1942—this artwork contributes to a vast visual archive of over 15,000 renderings celebrating everyday American folk art and design. During the Great Depression, initiatives like this employed artists to highlight the nation's cultural heritage, from Shaker simplicity to colonial elegance. The "Sanctuary Table," evoking ecclesiastical or communal spaces, underscores the role of vernacular furniture in American spiritual and social life, offering visitors a window into forgotten treasures of our design history.