Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
The Silent Fisherman
Alternate Title(s):The Lone Fisherman
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1906
Dimensions:
dimensions unavailable
known by reproduction only
Accession number: SUPP2000.1049
Research Number: NCW: 1049
InscribedLower right: N. C. WYETH / 1906
ProvenanceThe artist; (Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, NY); Mr. J. V. Davies, Flushing, NY
References
Betsy James Wyeth, The Wyeths, The Letters of N. C. Wyeth, 1901-1945 (Boston: Gambit, 1971), ps. 184, 185, 188, 192, 200, 201; Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illlustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1972), p. 274, illustration in b/w p. 59; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.164, p. 158
Curatorial RemarksWyeth accepted few commissions in the fall of 1906 in order to work on this painting, the subject of which he described as "fishing for sturgeon" (Betsy James Wyeth, p. 184). It was destined from initial conception for the 102nd Annual Exhibition of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts but with grave doubts of his success, early in December 1906 he decided not to send it for the jury's consideration. Later that month he changed his mind. Ultimately the picture was not accepted and a deal with a potential buyer ("Mr. Krebs," Betsy James Wyeth, p. 184) must have fallen through. From Scribner's records (Scribner's card file, Brandywine River Museum), it would appear that Scribner's reproduced the picture in the magazine and as a print, and then sold the canvas to J. V. Davies.
A card in the Scribner's Archives at Princeton University Library indicates that approximately 5,000 reproductions were printed in four separate editions by the Van Dyck Gravure Company of New York. Wyeth's royalty on sales of the print was 10%. The Brandywine River Museum library collection includes holds one of the prints which measures 11 5/8 x 9 5/8 inches (#4468). There is no hand coloring on this example, but other prints with some gouache highlights have been noted.
In 1939, Wyeth accepted a commission from a friend and collector of his work, Robert E. Treman of Ithaca, NY, to paint another version (NCW 1051) of this painting, which Treman had always admired. Wyeth and Treman were unable to locate this painting at that time (Robert E. Treman correspondence, copies, Brandywine River Museum library). The Brandywine River Museum holds a lantern slide (NCWS.95.1825.262) of a reproduction of the painting which was probably used by the artist to paint the later version.
A card in the Scribner's Archives at Princeton University Library indicates that approximately 5,000 reproductions were printed in four separate editions by the Van Dyck Gravure Company of New York. Wyeth's royalty on sales of the print was 10%. The Brandywine River Museum library collection includes holds one of the prints which measures 11 5/8 x 9 5/8 inches (#4468). There is no hand coloring on this example, but other prints with some gouache highlights have been noted.
In 1939, Wyeth accepted a commission from a friend and collector of his work, Robert E. Treman of Ithaca, NY, to paint another version (NCW 1051) of this painting, which Treman had always admired. Wyeth and Treman were unable to locate this painting at that time (Robert E. Treman correspondence, copies, Brandywine River Museum library). The Brandywine River Museum holds a lantern slide (NCWS.95.1825.262) of a reproduction of the painting which was probably used by the artist to paint the later version.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Digital photography from printed source (Brandywine River Museum library, bound tear sheet)
Photo Credit:Rick Echelmeyer, 7/11/2006