Dayton Brown

Dayton Brown was active between 1935 and 1937, contributing fifteen documented works to the Index of American Designs, a major component of the Federal Art Project during the Great Depression. This ambitious initiative was dedicated to preserving the visual records of historic American decorative arts, architectural features, and folk objects. Brown’s artistic output is defined by precise documentation studies, focusing heavily on ecclesiastical architecture and historic furnishings, often referencing mission-era California.

Specific examples of the studies represented in collections include the detailed rendering of the Pulpit - San Buenaventura Mission, the documentation of an Iron Cross, and studies of the Original Tabernacle, for Communion Vessels. Further works include investigations into a Sanctuary Table and a Wall Painting. The careful and detailed nature of these drawings ensures they maintain museum-quality standards for historical documentation.

Fifteen documented Dayton Brown prints stemming from the Index of American Designs are preserved in the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. As visual records produced under the federally funded art project, much of this material is now in the public domain, serving as a vital resource for scholars and historians.