Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
Popular Magazine, cover illustration
Alternate Title(s):The Angelus
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1911
Dimensions:
36 × 24 in. (91.4 × 61 cm)
Private collection
Accession number: SUPP2000.1873
Research Number: NCW: 1873
InscribedLower left: N. C. WYETH (underlined); lower right: N. C. Wyeth.; on verso of canvas, illegible inscription in pencil within trapezoidal box (possibly "W r n / P k ain")
ProvenanceCharles Christian Illers, Street & Smith, New York, NY, as a wedding present, ca. August 1919; descended in family; (Christie's, New York, NY, Dec. 2, 2004, lot no. 121); (Somerville/Manning Gallery, Greenville, DE)
Exhibition HistoryGreenville, DE, Somerville Manning Gallery, "N. C. Wyeth, Illustrations and Landscape Paintings," Oct. 13--Nov. 11, 2006, illus. (unpaginated)
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1972), p. 269; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.355, p. 234
Curatorial RemarksThe family of the original owner reported that the artist titled this painting "The Angelus" but there is no archival material to support this statement. Wyeth was, however, an admirer of Millet's work, so the title could have some signficance. There is an intriguing series of letters in November 1907 referring to a "big picture" which the artist called "The End of the Day" (Wyeth Family Archives). Wyeth hoped to submit this picture to the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Art's Jan. 1908 exhibition, but if submitted, the painting was not accepted. He may have decided several years later to sell it to Street & Smith.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Transparency directly from painting
Photo Credit:Photography by Jeff Fay, 10/2003