Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
Pittsburgh in the Beginning
Date: ca. 1930
Dimensions:
dimensions unavailable
location unknown
Accession number: SUPP2000.2237
Research Number: NCW: 2237
Inscribedlower right: N. C. WYETH (underlined, from reproduction)
ProvenancePennyslvania Railroad
References
"Paints Dozen Historic Posters," Philadelphia Inquirer, June 9, 1930, p.?; Pennyslvania Railroad press release, Nov. 23, 1930, Ivy L. Lee Papers, Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, Princeton University Library; "The Pennsylvania News," (published by the Pennsylvania Railroad), vol. 8, no. 20 (1 Dec. 1930), illus p. 1; Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1972), p. 288, color illustration p. 151; Christine B. Podmaniczky and Charles H. Wolfinger, "N. C. Wyeth's Pennsylvania Railroad Paintings," The Keystone, vol. 34, no. 1 (Spring 2001), p. 56; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), C.75, p. 662
Curatorial RemarksThe press release issued by the Pennsylvania Railroad on Nov. 23, 1930 (Ivy Lee Papers, Seeley G. Mudd Manuscript Library, Princeton University Library), described in detail Wyeth's sources for this image. He made particular use of a contemporary account of the fort's construction that he found in the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh.
The Brandywine River Museum holds a poster mounted on heavy cardboard found in the artist's studio (NCWS.95.6578); the image size of the poster measures approx. 30 x 24". The BRM also holds several copies of the Forbes reproduction for the calendar, image size 16 1/2 x 13 5/8 in. (Brandywine River Museum library #4430.3; No. 32002 is a Forbes image mounted on board stamped: THIS DESIGN / IS SUBMITTED BY / NIAGARA LITHO. CO. / NY / WHO RESERVE THE / EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO ITS / REPRODUCTION AND TO / WHOM IT MUST BE / RETURNED).
The Brandywine River Museum holds a poster mounted on heavy cardboard found in the artist's studio (NCWS.95.6578); the image size of the poster measures approx. 30 x 24". The BRM also holds several copies of the Forbes reproduction for the calendar, image size 16 1/2 x 13 5/8 in. (Brandywine River Museum library #4430.3; No. 32002 is a Forbes image mounted on board stamped: THIS DESIGN / IS SUBMITTED BY / NIAGARA LITHO. CO. / NY / WHO RESERVE THE / EXCLUSIVE RIGHT TO ITS / REPRODUCTION AND TO / WHOM IT MUST BE / RETURNED).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Photography from printed source (Brandywine River Museum Library, 4430.3)
Photo Credit:Rick Echelmeyer, 1/2002