Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
The Spirit of '46
Medium: Oil on hardboard
Date: 1945
Dimensions:
48 × 32 3/4 in. (121.9 × 83.2 cm)
Private collection
Accession number: SUPP2000.672
Research Number: NCW: 672
InscribedLower right: N. C. WYETH (underlined)
ProvenanceHercules Powder Company, Inc. (Hercules Incorporated), Wilmington, DE, 1945-2002; (Christie's, New York, NY, lot no. 61, April 25, 2002)
Exhibition HistoryDover, DE, Wesley College, "The Wyeth Family," April 29 - May 6, 1973
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1972), p. 153; Hagley Museum and Library Newsletter, vol. 24, no. 3 (Fall 1995), illustration b/w p. 1; Bob Strauss, Beverly Strauss, American Sporting Advertising, Vol. I, Posters and Calendars (Jefferson, ME: Circus Promotions Corp., 1987), HE-33; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), C.187, p. 700
Curatorial Remarks"Marvin (of Hercules advertising dept.) called me up the other evening to tell me that my "Spirit of '46" has made a great impression on various businessmen who have seen it, and certain government agency's (sic) in Washington are having 25,000 printed twice the size (in color) of the Hercules calendar" (NCW to Carolyn Bockius Wyeth, Aug. 22, 1945, Wyeth Family Archives).
The Brandywine River Museum holds the composition drawing (96.1.504) in charcoal. The painting was reproduced on the Hercules calendar for 1946; not including the metal hanger bar at the top, the image measured 18 3/4 x 13". There are also reproductions in the BRMA collection that measure 19 x 13". Posters measuring 37 3/8 x 25 5/8" were also printed, but the legend in the lower right does not indicate if this is the print run Wyeth referred to in the letter to his wife quoted above.
The Brandywine River Museum holds the composition drawing (96.1.504) in charcoal. The painting was reproduced on the Hercules calendar for 1946; not including the metal hanger bar at the top, the image measured 18 3/4 x 13". There are also reproductions in the BRMA collection that measure 19 x 13". Posters measuring 37 3/8 x 25 5/8" were also printed, but the legend in the lower right does not indicate if this is the print run Wyeth referred to in the letter to his wife quoted above.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Digital photography directly from painting
Photo Credit:Courtesy of Christie's, New York