Study for Christ, "Christ the Carpenter" World War II portable altarpiece, for Philadelphia Naval Base Chapel

One of Oakley’s most impressive commissions during World War II was the monumental altarpiece Christ the Carpenter, commissioned for the Philadelphia Naval Base Chapel at the Philadelphia Navy Yard. Activity at the shipyard and naval base was around the clock to produce the boats and submarines for the war. Oakley made many studies for the primary image of Jesus building a boat and the two figures flanking him. Christ is a strong young man in a tunic bearing lumber on his shoulder that foreshadows his carrying of the cross. Oakley assumed her altarpiece would become permanent, but its current location is unknown.