Ridge Church

Artist:

N.C. Wyeth

(American, 1882 - 1945)

Ridge Church

Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: ca. 1922 / 1930
Dimensions:
25 × 40 in. (63.5 × 101.6 cm)
Anna Brelsford McCoy
Accession number: SUPP2000.890
Research Number: NCW: 890
InscribedLower right: probably not in NCW's hand: N. C. WEETH (sic); on reverse, along top of canvas: ANN WYETH MCCOY CHADDS FORD PA GIVEN TO ANNA B. MCCOY 1980
ProvenanceThe artist; Ann Wyeth McCoy
Exhibition HistoryRockland, ME, 1982, p. 4; Portland, ME, 2000, p. 58; Rockland, ME, 2001
References Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, Catalogue Raisonne of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), L.148, p. 747
Curatorial RemarksThis is the earlier of two paintings of the Ridge Church, Martinsville, near Port Clyde. Clearly, Wyeth's interest here lies in color--the contrast between the white of the church, the red of the farm buildings and the spires of dark green that punctuate the what the artist observed as a "violet gray sky". NCW 2200 and 2201 are composition drawings with extensive color notes.
Ann Wyeth McCoy felt that the work was done while the family was still staying at the Wawenock boarding house in Port Clyde, prior to the completion of renovations on the Seavey house in 1930. N. C. Wyeth (see NCW 754), Andrew Wyeth (Private collection) and Carolyn Wyeth (BRMA, 85.10.103) painted the chuch again in the mid-1930s.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:photography from art work
Photo Credit:Dennis Griggs, 2000