Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
The White Man Did Nothing but Waste
Date: 1905
Dimensions:
dimensions unavailable
Known by reproduction only
Accession number: SUPP2000.1909
Research Number: NCW: 1909
InscribedBelow image on left: W - 05 (from reproduction)
Exhibition HistoryPhiladelphia, PA, Curtis Publishing Company, Oct. 1905
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1972), p. 272; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.90, p. 128
Curatorial RemarksWhile the caption does not identify the figure as Kit Carson, a portion of the text refers to the famous trapper and scout. Thus it is likely that this picture is the one the artist referred to: "I have just finished a great big picture of "Kit Carson" and H. P. thinks it one of my best pictures" (NCW to Henriette Zirngiebel Wyeth, dated by NCW Sept. 7th, 1905 by context, Wyeth Family Archives). For this commission (5 paintings), Wyeth received $275.00, "d____ good for any magazine" (NCW to Henriette Zirngiebel Wyeth, "Dear Mama, I know I haven't written" and dated Oct. 1, 1905 in another hand, Wyeth Family Archives).
"The Kit Carson drawings are creating quite a stir at the Curtis Pub. Co., as I saw to-day that they had them all framed in gold and hung on exhibition down in their big hall. They were the only pictures on the wall of deep red plush and I tell you they look pretty well" (NCW to Henriette Zirngiebel Wyeth, "Dear Mama, My heavens!..." and dated in another hand Oct. 5, 1905, Wyeth Family Archives).
"The Kit Carson drawings are creating quite a stir at the Curtis Pub. Co., as I saw to-day that they had them all framed in gold and hung on exhibition down in their big hall. They were the only pictures on the wall of deep red plush and I tell you they look pretty well" (NCW to Henriette Zirngiebel Wyeth, "Dear Mama, My heavens!..." and dated in another hand Oct. 5, 1905, Wyeth Family Archives).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Transparency from printed source (Brandywine River Museum Library, periodical)
Photo Credit:Rick Echelmeyer, 6/27/2005