Tabernacle (Ecclesiastical Furniture)c. 1938
Cornelius Christoffels painted this in about 1938, aged 59. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. More about this work
About this work
The image shows a small intricately decorated wooden structure with an arched top and a central door flanked by two metal hinges. The structure is painted with a floral and vine motif in colors such as red, green, and yellow on a light background. The wooden door has a textured appearance. The object is positioned centrally with the door facing forward, placed on a slightly elevated base with two footings extending forward. The overall look is ornate and symmetrical, showcasing detailed design work.
Description from the National Gallery of Art.
Cornelius Christoffels painted this in about 1938, aged 59. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
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.
Cornelius Christoffels
American, born Netherlands, 1879–1960
American folk and design
The everyday art of early America, recorded in watercolour by the Index of American Design.
Rights and the museum’s record
Public domain. The National Gallery of Art has dedicated this image to the public domain under CC0, so anyone may copy, adapt and use it, for any purpose, without asking. Our prints and files are reproductions made from the museum’s image; the museum doesn’t endorse them.
- Object number
- 1943.8.6623
- Credit
- Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
- Type
- Drawing
- Department
- Index of American Design
- Licence
- CC0 1.0 Universal
- Museum record
- See it on the museum’s site
Report this work
Close in colour
