Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
Apotheosis of the Family
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1932
Dimensions:
228 × 720 in. (579.1 × 1828.8 cm)
Collection of the Historical Society of Delaware
Accession number: SUPP2000.1103
Research Number: NCW: 1103
InscribedBottom center: N. C. WYETH 1932
ProvenanceCommissioned by Frederick E. Stone, President, Wilmington Savings Fund Society, Collection of The Wilmington Savings Fund Society, FSB, Wilmington, DE, to 2006
Exhibition HistoryWilmington, DE, 1968, illustration on front and back catalogue covers
References
"Home is Artists' (sic) Theme in Magnificent Painting for Savings Society," undated and unidentified newspaper clipping (Wilmington, DE, Evening Journal or Morning News, ca. 1931), Brandywine River Museum library); "Huge Wyeth Mural to Be Ready For Savings Fund's 100th Birthday, (Wilmington, DE) Evening Journal, Jan. 16, 1932, p. 12; "Wil. Savings Fund Centenary Feb. 18," (Wilmington, DE) Delmarva Star, Feb. 14, 1932, p. 7 and "invitation" to public opening, p. 10; "City Saving (sic) Fund Society 100 Yrs. Old," (Wilmington, DE) Evening Journal, Feb. 16, 1932, ps. 1 and 27; "Wilmington Savings Fund Society Observing Its 100th Anniversary," (Wilmington, DE) Journal Every Evening, Feb. 16, 1932, p. 8 ("reprinted from Savings Bank Journal"); "Saving (sic) Fund Society to Unveil Painting on 100th Anniversary," (Wilmington, DE) Morning News, Feb. 17, 1932, p. 15; "Bank Mural to Open to Public View Tonight," (Wilmington, DE) Evening Journal, Feb. 18, 1932, ps. 1 and 8; "1400 View Huge Mural Painting at Savings Fund," (Wilmington, DE) Morning News, Feb. 19, 1932, ps. 1 and 2.
Delaware Today, vol. 5, no. 6 (Feb.-March 1967), with text re: conception and literary source, det. illustration in color on cover; Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), ps. 163-164, b/w illustration ps. 166-167; Gary Mullinax, "A Wyeth Gets a Good Washing," (Wilmington, DE) News Journal, July 5, 1998, p. C1; Ralph Blumenthal, "New Sheen for a Huge 1930's Painting," New York Times, Aug. 17, 1998, p. E1; "Family Values / Newly Restored, A Great Mural Celebrates America's Ideals," Life Magazine (October 1998), color illustration, ps.110-112; Maureen Milford, "N. C. Wyeth's mural truly a family affair," (Wilmington) News Journal, March 23, 2007, E4-5; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), M.46, p. 620; Christine B. Podmaniczky, "N. C. Wyeth, American Regionalist" in Rural Modern, American Art Beyond the City (NY: Rizzoli, 2016), p. 170, illus. in color, p. 170;
Curatorial RemarksWyeth received this commission in March, 1930. In Feb. 1931, the artist wrote, "I am now reading and am deeply stirred by John Dryden's translation of Virgil's Pastorals (Brandywine River Museum, NCWS.95.582, with annotations between I:460-485 and paper marker at III: 120-185.) I realize fully what a great force these will be in the doing of the 30 x 60 foot panel for the Wilmington Bank" (NCW to Stimson Wyeth, "No one knows better than I..." and dated in another hand Feb. 19, 1931, Wyeth Family Archives). "Huge Wyeth Mural to Be Ready For Savings Fund's 100th Birthday" (see above) describes in some detail the installation process, which was handled by Wolheim Brothers of New York, supervised by the artist, and completed for the opening on Feb. 18, 1932. The mural was treated in situ by conservators in 1998, and in December 2007, the mural was prepared for removal to another site.
The Brandywine River Museum holds an archival photograph showing the mural stretched along three walls of Wyeth's studio, and several photographs of the mural in situ, including two large photograhic prints mounted on heavy cardboard (see NCWS.95.6576 and NCWS.95.6577). The Andrew and Betsy Wyeth collection includes study drawings for many of the figures.
The image was drawn in pen and ink by Franklin Booth and reproduced in "Huge Wyeth Mural to Be Ready For Savings Fund's 100th Birthday" (see above) and in WSFS occasional advertisements (ie., see Wilmington Morning News, April 3, 1940). WSFS reproduced the painting as a print (image size 5 x 18 in.) and as a postcard.
The Brandywine River Museum holds an archival photograph showing the mural stretched along three walls of Wyeth's studio, and several photographs of the mural in situ, including two large photograhic prints mounted on heavy cardboard (see NCWS.95.6576 and NCWS.95.6577). The Andrew and Betsy Wyeth collection includes study drawings for many of the figures.
The image was drawn in pen and ink by Franklin Booth and reproduced in "Huge Wyeth Mural to Be Ready For Savings Fund's 100th Birthday" (see above) and in WSFS occasional advertisements (ie., see Wilmington Morning News, April 3, 1940). WSFS reproduced the painting as a print (image size 5 x 18 in.) and as a postcard.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:1. Photography from original art work; 2. Mural as installed at Wimington Savings Fund Society, 9th and Market Streets, Wilmington, DE; 3. N. C. Wyeth in his studio
Photo Credit:1. Rick Echelmeyer; 2. Sanborn Studio, Wilmington, DE; 3. Earl C. Roper, Philadelphia, PA