Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
Still life with Two Bottles and Bowl
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: ca. 1931 / 1932
Dimensions:
40 × 32 1/4 in. (101.6 × 81.9 cm)
Private collection
Accession number: SUPP2000.1207
Research Number: NCW: 1207
InscribedUpper right: TO GEO. WHITNEY. / from WYETH / 32-; scratched into paint immediately below: 3 hrs / N. C. W.
ProvenanceThe artist; gift to George Gillett Whitney; (?); Private collection by mid 1960s and descended in family, to 2011; (Sommerville Manning Gallery, Greenville, DE, to 3/2012)
References
Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, Catalogue Raisonne of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), S.23, p. 792
Curatorial RemarksIn both the glass bottle and in the bowl of this still life, the artist indicated the reflection of the big north window in his studio. In the bottle, the reflection is constructed of rectagular shapes that recall the panes in the window; in the bowl, made of a different material and hence with a different reflective quality, the artist used a pointed implement to scratch a window-pane-like grid into a light area of paint that had been rather thickly applied. All three objects were favorite still life pieces and occur in other paintings. The crockery bottle remains in the studio collection (NCWS.95.1813, Brandywine River Museum).
Fortunately, notations on the reverse of this canvas were documented photographically before the canvas was lined using microcrystalline wax. The notations were: p. 9 - January / 6" deep x 4 ¾" wide / 1/8" down 1/8" (one illegible word) / corners crop - / add 1/8" on all four sides / (two illegible words) mist grey / overall width 5" / Blank. Elsewhere on the reverse of the canvas: 3 hrs / 4'6" + 8" wider / (one illegible word) prints / return originals. These notations are sufficient to identify the painting underneath as NCW 1839, the only illustration by Wyeth to appear on page 9 in a January magazine.
George Gillett Whitney (1891 - 1979), to whom the painting is inscribed, was a fine arts teacher at Westtown School from 1920 to 1956. Whitney may have studied informally with Wyeth; he arranged to have Wyeth judge student exhibitions at Westtown where prizes were autographed copies of Wyeth's books.
Fortunately, notations on the reverse of this canvas were documented photographically before the canvas was lined using microcrystalline wax. The notations were: p. 9 - January / 6" deep x 4 ¾" wide / 1/8" down 1/8" (one illegible word) / corners crop - / add 1/8" on all four sides / (two illegible words) mist grey / overall width 5" / Blank. Elsewhere on the reverse of the canvas: 3 hrs / 4'6" + 8" wider / (one illegible word) prints / return originals. These notations are sufficient to identify the painting underneath as NCW 1839, the only illustration by Wyeth to appear on page 9 in a January magazine.
George Gillett Whitney (1891 - 1979), to whom the painting is inscribed, was a fine arts teacher at Westtown School from 1920 to 1956. Whitney may have studied informally with Wyeth; he arranged to have Wyeth judge student exhibitions at Westtown where prizes were autographed copies of Wyeth's books.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Transparency directly from painting
Photo Credit:Rick Echelmeyer, 4/2004