Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
The Fraser Family
He was crammed, stiff and heated, into the old chaise between his parents
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1928
Dimensions:
40 × 32 1/2 in. (101.6 × 82.6 cm)
The Town of Southern Pines, Southern Pines, North Carolina
Accession number: SUPP2000.1256
Research Number: NCW: 1256
InscribedLower right: N. C. WYETH (underlined); written on reverse of canvas: THE FRASER / 47615 / - 5 3/8 -
ProvenanceThe artist; Mr. and Mrs. James Boyd, to 1944; Mrs. James Boyd, to 1974
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 198; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.1058, p. 499
Curatorial RemarksThe Brandywine River Museum holds Scribner's unillustrated 1925 edition of Drums which the artist read in preparation for this commission and marked with notes throughout and on the endsheets (NCWS.95.239).
A letter from Wyeth to James Boyd, dated in Wyeth's hand Jan. 5, 1928, indicates that by that date Boyd had already seen some proofs of the illustrations that included pictures of Squire Fraser. Boyd apparently wanted to make sure that Fraser's beard would be a tawny brown in the reproductions and Wyeth promised to make the color corrections (James Boyd Papers, no. 3610, Southern Historical Collection, Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
A letter from Wyeth to James Boyd, dated in Wyeth's hand Jan. 5, 1928, indicates that by that date Boyd had already seen some proofs of the illustrations that included pictures of Squire Fraser. Boyd apparently wanted to make sure that Fraser's beard would be a tawny brown in the reproductions and Wyeth promised to make the color corrections (James Boyd Papers, no. 3610, Southern Historical Collection, Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Digital photography directly from painting
Photo Credit:Peter Paul Geoffrion, April 2006