Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
St. Andrew's School mural, presentation painting
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1936/1937
Dimensions:
29 × 75 1/8 in. (73.7 × 190.8 cm)
Brandywine River Museum of Art, Bequest of Carolyn Wyeth, 1996
Accession number: 96.1.53
Label Copy:
In 1936, Wyeth was commissioned by Mrs. Irenee du Pont to create a mural for the commons room of the newly founded St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, Delaware. This canvas was prepared to show du Pont what the final mural would look like and includes the architectural setting (i.e., woodwork and doors) on the wall where the mural would be placed. Two subjects are divided by the double door: the planning of St. Andrew's by the trustees and headmaster (viewer's right) and students of Saint Andrew's surrounding an allegorical figure of Alma Mater (viewer's left).
The presentation painting was used to transfer the design to the larger support. Tacks, with small pieces of string still attached, remain in place in uniform intervals where the artist squared off the image for transfer. Lantern slides made from each square (Brandywine River Museum of Art, NCWS.95.1825.18-26) were then projected onto the final support which had been squared off into the same number of larger squares.
In 1936, Wyeth was commissioned by Mrs. Irenee du Pont to create a mural for the commons room of the newly founded St. Andrew’s School in Middletown, Delaware. This canvas was prepared to show du Pont what the final mural would look like and includes the architectural setting (i.e., woodwork and doors) on the wall where the mural would be placed. Two subjects are divided by the double door: the planning of St. Andrew's by the trustees and headmaster (viewer's right) and students of Saint Andrew's surrounding an allegorical figure of Alma Mater (viewer's left).
The presentation painting was used to transfer the design to the larger support. Tacks, with small pieces of string still attached, remain in place in uniform intervals where the artist squared off the image for transfer. Lantern slides made from each square (Brandywine River Museum of Art, NCWS.95.1825.18-26) were then projected onto the final support which had been squared off into the same number of larger squares.
Research Number: NCW: 944
InscribedOn reverse of canvas stamped in red, a shield design with words across top: VICTOR CLAESSE(illegible); along sides of shield: (illegible) WEBEGHEM / BELGIOU (illegible); on cross stretcher member: 28; on bottom stretcher member, remnants of adhesive label with red edges; nail holes along edge of canvas correspond with lantern slides that show canvas lined for transfer.
ProvenanceThe artist; Mrs. N. C. Wyeth; Carolyn Wyeth
References
Richard Layton, "Inventory of Paintings in the Wyeth Studio, 1950," unpublished, Wyeth Family Archives, p. 73
Curatorial RemarksThis painting was used to show Mrs. Irenee du Pont, who commissioned the decoration, the appearance of the proposed mural. More importantly, it was used to transfer the design to the larger support. Tacks, with small pieces of string still attached, remain in place in uniform intervals where the artist squared off the image for transfer. Lantern slides made from each square (Brandywine River Museum, NCWS.95.1825.18-26) were then projected onto the final support which had been squared off into the same number of larger squares.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Transparency directly from painting
Photo Credit:Rick Echelmeyer, 3/2004