Sea Chest
Medium
watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paperboard
Dimensions
overall: 31.8 x 24.5 cm (12 1/2 x 9 5/8 in.) Original IAD Object: none given
Classification
Index of American Design
Department
CG-W
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Index of American Design
Accession Number
1943.8.4653
Art Historical Context
**Sea Chest** (1936), a meticulous by artists Robert Birrell Donald Donovan, captures the essence of a classic American maritime artifact through watercolor, colored pencil, and on paperboard. Measuring 31.8 x 24.5 cm, this detailed drawing showcases the chest's sturdy form, likely evoking the practical storage pieces carried by sailors on long voyages. The mixed media allow for vibrant hues and precise lines, blending realism with subtle artistic flair to highlight textures like wood grain and metal hardware. Created as part of the Index of American Design (IAD), a Federal Art Project under ...