Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
The Bear Hunter
Alternate Title(s):The Prospector
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1909
Dimensions:
41 × 21 1/2 in. (104.1 × 54.6 cm)
Museum of Texas Tech University
Accession number: SUPP2000.474
Research Number: NCW: 474
InscribedLower left: N. C. WYETH / 09
ProvenanceMrs. H. S. Griffin; gift to West Texas Museum, 1954
Exhibition HistoryLubbock, TX, 1959, no. 39; Chadds Ford, PA, 1990(2), no. 37, illus. b/w p. 55, as "The Prospector"; San Angelo, TX, 1993; Lubbock, TX, 1999, as "The Prospector"; Tyler, TX, Tyler Museum of Art, "The Wyeths Across Texas," no. 5, p. 50, illus. p. 51; Stockbridge, MA, Norman Rockwell Museum of American Illustration, June 9-Oct. 28, 2018, "Keepers of the Flame: Parrish, Wyeth, Rockwell and the Narrative Tradition," p. 10
References
Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), C.9, p. 640
Curatorial Remarks"I've just layed in a second Forbes picture, i.e. one that I shall submit to them. The title is "The Bear-Hunter," a type of the old school of remote hunters on horseback descending a precipitous trail into the evening shadows of a canon (sic). His horse is loaded with six or eight steal (sic) bear traps and his pack horse follows behind. A mosaic of chaotic mountains and a hot evening cloud make up the background" (NCW to family in Needham, "A belated New Years letter!..." and dated in another hand 1/1/1909, Wyeth Family Archives). During a trip to New York City several weeks later, Wyeth left the picture with the American Litho Company for "trial sale," presumably for reproduction as an art print (NCW to Carolyn Bockius Wyeth, "It's near eleven o'clock," and dated in another hand 1/14/1909, Wyeth Family Archives).
Jim Ellis (museum volunteer, 2007) has identified the gun prominent in the picture as a Winchester Rifle model '73, one of which was included in Wyeth's studio collection (NCWS.95.2403).
Jim Ellis (museum volunteer, 2007) has identified the gun prominent in the picture as a Winchester Rifle model '73, one of which was included in Wyeth's studio collection (NCWS.95.2403).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Transparency directly from painting