Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
Robinson Crusoe, cover illustration
Alternate Title(s):I walked about on the shore lifting up my hands and my whole being
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1920
Dimensions:
31 7/8 × 30 1/8 in. (81 × 76.5 cm)
The Phyllis and Jamie Wyeth Collection
Accession number: SUPP2000.158
Research Number: NCW: 158
Inscribedlower right: WYETH (underlined)
ProvenanceThe artist to 1923; The Wilmington Institute Library, Wilmington, Delaware, 1923-2009; (Christie's, New York, NY, Dec. 2, 2009, lot no. 125); Private collection, Wilmington, DE
Exhibition Historypossibly Philadelphia, PA, 1921; possibly Boston, MA, Boston Public Library, April 1923; Chadds Ford, PA, 1972, no. 109, as "The First Cover Painting for Robinson Crusoe"; Wilmington, DE, 1981; Chadds Ford, PA, 1985;
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 203, and index as "I walked about on the shore lifting up my hands and my whole being"; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.808, p. 402
Curatorial RemarksA private collector holds a mock-up of the book, designed for salesmen to show prospective buyers prior to publication. Only this cover illustration, the endsheets, title page picture and frontispiece were included in the mock-up, along with a page of text and advertising material.
The Wilmington Institute Library holds letters to and from the artist regarding the purchase of the Robinson Crusoe paintings. In October, 1921, the Library trustees offered the artist $2,000 for 12 paintings, which were paid for when the paintings were installed in the Children's Room of the new building at 10th and Market Streets in early May 1923 (see letters between NCW and Arthur L. Bailey, Oct. 26, 1921 through May 9, 1923, collection of Wilmington Institute Library).
The Wilmington Institute Library holds letters to and from the artist regarding the purchase of the Robinson Crusoe paintings. In October, 1921, the Library trustees offered the artist $2,000 for 12 paintings, which were paid for when the paintings were installed in the Children's Room of the new building at 10th and Market Streets in early May 1923 (see letters between NCW and Arthur L. Bailey, Oct. 26, 1921 through May 9, 1923, collection of Wilmington Institute Library).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:transparency directly from painting
Photo Credit:Rick Echelmeyer, Dec. 1999