Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
Stephan Decatur and the Pirates of Tripoli--1804
Alternate Title(s):Decatur and the Barbary Pirates
Medium: Oil on hardboard
Date: 1941
Dimensions:
dimensions unavailable
Location unknown
Accession number: SUPP2000.1491
Research Number: NCW: 1491
InscribedLower right: N. C. WYETH (underlined)
References
N. C. Wyeth, Income tax notes for 1941 (unpublished, Brandywine River Museum library), as "Decatur and the Barbary Pirates"; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), C.149, p. 687
Curatorial RemarksThis painting is documented by the order from Forbes for a "finished painting of Decatur and the Pirates of Tripoli" (dated Oct. 20, 1941, Wyeth Family Archives) and a black and white photograph of the painting stamped on the reverse: FORBES LITHOGRAPH MFG. COMPANY / BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS (Collection of Douglas Allen). The order stipulates that the client is the Penn Mutual Life Insurance Company, and a letter to Wyeth from Forbes (C. F. Haist to NCW Aug. 12, 1941, Wyeth Family Archives) discusses "a series of six pictures contemplated for Penn Mutual Life Insurance calendar." No material documenting the proposed calendar as come to light at Penn Mutual (George Kock, archivist, Penn Mutual to CBP, Nov. 11. 1994), and no printed calendar is known, however, the Brandywine River Museum library collection includes a 1 x 5 1/4 inch piece of paper with the type set title Freedom of the Seas / STEPHAN DECATUR AND THE PRIATES OF TRIPOLI--1804.
The Wyeth Family Archives includes the artist's original proposal, "The Building of Freedom in America, a plan for a series of 6 paintings for a calendar" dated August 5, 1941.
For income tax purposes, among the expenses the artist deducted from the price of the painting ($500) was a second panel ("one spoiled"), costumes, models and "trip to Commercial Museum, Phila (ships)". (for more on Commercial Museum, see http://www.phillyseaport.org/web_exhibits/mini_exhibits/philadelphia_commercial_museum/timeline.shtml.) The charcoal composition drawing (NCW 1146) is known by two archival photographs (Brandywine River Museum library) and a lantern slide (BRM, NCWS.95.1825.258) used in the transfer of the design from paper to panel.
The Wyeth Family Archives includes the artist's original proposal, "The Building of Freedom in America, a plan for a series of 6 paintings for a calendar" dated August 5, 1941.
For income tax purposes, among the expenses the artist deducted from the price of the painting ($500) was a second panel ("one spoiled"), costumes, models and "trip to Commercial Museum, Phila (ships)". (for more on Commercial Museum, see http://www.phillyseaport.org/web_exhibits/mini_exhibits/philadelphia_commercial_museum/timeline.shtml.) The charcoal composition drawing (NCW 1146) is known by two archival photographs (Brandywine River Museum library) and a lantern slide (BRM, NCWS.95.1825.258) used in the transfer of the design from paper to panel.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:photography from artwork (archival photo stamped on reverse: FORBES LITHOGRAPH MFG. COMPANY / BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS; collection of Douglas Allen)
Photo Credit:Courtesy of Douglas Allen