The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come, endpaper illustration

Artist:

N.C. Wyeth

(American, 1882 - 1945)

The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come, endpaper illustration

Alternate Title(s):Melissa and Chad
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1930 / 1931
Dimensions:
28 × 42 in. (71.1 × 106.7 cm)
Private collection, Portland, OR
Accession number: SUPP2000.1412
Research Number: NCW: 1412
InscribedLower left: N. C. WYETH (underlined)
ProvenanceWyeth family to 1960s; Mr. and Mrs. Peter Eshelman
References Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 204; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.1150, p. 530
Curatorial RemarksThe N. C. Wyeth House/Studio library includes a 1903 edition of this title (NCWS.95.655), illustrated by F. C. Yohn. The copy contains notations Wyeth made as he planned his own edition. According to the first owner of the painting, the artist had painted out the lettering after publication. It was repainted by someone in the Wyeth family at the owner's request.
This book was not intended as one of the holiday gift books that Wyeth had done earlier for Scribner's. A letter to the artist from Arthur H. Scribner (Aug. 27, 1930), makes it clear that the publishers hoped to have this book out in May or June, 1931 (Scribner's Archives, Princeton University Library).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Transparency directly from painting
Photo Credit:Paul Foster Photography, 3/2004