Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
Lift Up Your Hearts
Medium: Oil
Date: 1943
Dimensions:
approximately 41 × 31 in. (104.1 × 78.7 cm)
Location unknown
© Brown & Bigelow, Inc., St. Paul, Minnesota
Accession number: SUPP2000.1687
Research Number: NCW: 1687
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1972), p. 290; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), C.171, p. 694, 695
Curatorial RemarksThis commission was handled by Wyeth's agent, American Artists Company. The composition drawing was approved by Brown & Bigelow in early April 1943 (Celia Mendelsohn, American Artists, to NCW, April 5, 1943, Wyeth Family Archives). A lantern slide (NCWS.95.1825.180, Brandywine River Museum) of the composition drawing shows Wyeth's intial concept; Brown & Bigelow asked that the landscape be made "rolling," the couple be made older ("45 years of age or older"), and insisted on the addition of the grouping of buildings above the picket fence on the right. Brown & Bigelow archives list the painting as "oil; approximate size 31 x 41" ; the company paid $1250 for the drawing and painting, but it is not known how much Wyeth recieved from American Artists. According to a letter to him from American Artists acknowledging receipt of the painting, he neglected to sign the work before shipping it to New York (June 1, 1943, Wyeth Family Archives). No signature appears in the reproduction.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Digital photography from printed source (Brandywine River Museum Library)
Photo Credit:Rick Echelmeyer, 9/20/2006