Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
Elizabeth and Essex, untitled headpiece illustration
Alternate Title(s):Elizabeth I
Medium: Oil on canvas mounted on board
Date: 1928
Dimensions:
22 7/8 × 28 1/4 in. (58.1 × 71.8 cm)
Brandywine River Museum of Art, Gift of Elizabeth H. "Sunny" Fleitas in memory of "Frolic," 2019
Accession number: 2019.10.1
Research Number: NCW: 1819
InscribedLeft center: "W"
Exhibition Historypossibly Wilmington, DE, 1929, no. 15 as "Elizabeth of England"; records are not clear whether the painting exhibited is this one or NCW 1822
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr. N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 263; Barbara Hodgdon, The Shakespeare Trade: Performances and Appropriations (Philadelphia: University of Penn Press, 1998), pps. 125-130, illus. b/w p. 127; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.1076, p. 507
Curatorial RemarksThere is only one known reference to this commission in Wyeth's letters. In a letter to Drums author James Boyd, the artist stated that he was way behind schedule on this set of paintings (see NCW to James Boyd, Jan. 5, 1928, James Boyd Papers, Southern Historical Collection, Library of University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
In December 1929, Wyeth exhibited "Elizabeth of England" at the annual exhibition of the Wilmington Society of the Fine Arts, catalogue number 15. It is not clear whether the reference is to this painting, or NCW 1822.
Based on the Strachey book, playwright Maxwell Anderson (1888-1959) wrote "Elizabeth the Queen" which opened on Broadway in November, 1930. On the cover of the January 1931 issue of Theater Magazine was an image of Elizabeth (as portrayed by Lynn Fontanne) suggestive of Wyeth's headpiece illustration.
In December 1929, Wyeth exhibited "Elizabeth of England" at the annual exhibition of the Wilmington Society of the Fine Arts, catalogue number 15. It is not clear whether the reference is to this painting, or NCW 1822.
Based on the Strachey book, playwright Maxwell Anderson (1888-1959) wrote "Elizabeth the Queen" which opened on Broadway in November, 1930. On the cover of the January 1931 issue of Theater Magazine was an image of Elizabeth (as portrayed by Lynn Fontanne) suggestive of Wyeth's headpiece illustration.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Digital scan of printed image, Brandywine River Museum library
Photo Credit:BRM staff