David S. De Vault

David S. De Vault was an artist active in 1935, whose documented output is primarily associated with the Index of American Design (IAD). This ambitious federal arts project, established during the New Deal era, sought to meticulously record historical American decorative arts, folk art, and material culture through detailed renderings.

Fifteen documentary works attributed to De Vault are preserved in museum collections, confirming the artist's role in the national documentation effort. These studies are represented in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. The documented pieces typically focus on minute detail and faithful reproduction, including renderings of historical objects such as the Candle Holder, Desk, Doll, Dutch Bible, and Foot Warmer.

As documentation completed under government auspices, the majority of the work related to David S. De Vault prints is now considered to be in the public domain. The availability of high-quality prints and downloadable artwork ensures that these historical records remain widely accessible for researchers and institutions.