# Jewel Cabinet

**Charles Henning** (American)  
c. 1939  
watercolor, colored pencil, and graphite on paperboard  
sheet: 45.4 × 55 cm (17 7/8 × 21 5/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 16 1/4"high; 18 3/8"wide; 10 3/4"deep.

Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1943.8.4682. [The museum's record](https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.16884.html).

## About this work

Charles Henning painted this in about 1939. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

### What you’re looking at

This is a painting of a decorative wooden chest. The chest has intricate designs, such as painted figures, trees, and animals, creating a narrative scene on its front side, and floral motifs on its sides. The craftsmanship suggests it is an ornate object, potentially used for storage or as an ornamental piece. The painting focuses on the texture and details of the wood and decoration with precision, in a traditional arts and crafts or folk art style, emphasizing fine detail and storytelling through imagery on functional furniture.

_Description from the National Gallery of Art._

### How it was made

- **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.

### [Charles Henning](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/charles-henning)

American

## Facts

- Type: Drawing
- Real size: about 18 × 22 in (45 × 55 cm). The 16 × 20 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 20th century
- Movement: [American folk and design](https://www.ochreeditions.com/movements/american-folk-design)
- Subjects: amusement, Hunting, Music
- 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/1396.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1396/1920.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; 24 × 36 in $108
- 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; 24 × 36 in $258
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118; 20 × 30 in $148
- 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; 24 × 36 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/jewel-cabinet-nga-16884).