# Original Tabernacle, for Communion Vessels

**Dayton Brown** (American, c. 1895–1971)  
1936  
watercolor, gold ink, colored pencil, pen and ink,and graphite on paper  
overall: 35.3 x 24.4 cm (13 7/8 x 9 5/8 in.) Original IAD Object: 25 1/4" x 22 1/16 exact. Approx. 17"deep

Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, 1943.8.6638. [The museum's record](https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.18838.html).

## About this work

Dayton Brown painted this in 1936, aged 41. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

### What you’re looking at

The image shows a painted artwork within an ornate frame. The artwork features a figure standing with one hand raised. The figure has long hair and a beard, and wears flowing blue and white garments. The background shows an earthy surface and a sky. The frame is gold and elaborately designed. The scene is set against a blank, light-colored background.

_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.
- **Pen and ink.** Drawn with a quill or reed pen, often with wash added by brush to model light and shadow.

### [Dayton Brown](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/dayton-brown)

American, c. 1895–1971

## Facts

- Type: Drawing
- The artist was 41
- Real size: about 14 × 9½ in (35 × 24 cm). The 11 × 14 in print is close to life size.
- Century: 20th century
- Movement: [American folk and design](https://www.ochreeditions.com/movements/american-folk-design)
- Subjects: New Testament, Christ
- Colour: ochre
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1401.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1401/1920.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
- 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
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118
- 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

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/original-tabernacle-for-communion-vessels-nga-18838).