Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
Wallace rescues Helen
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1921
Dimensions:
40 1/4 × 32 1/8 in. (102.2 × 81.6 cm)
Private collection
Accession number: SUPP2000.1797
Research Number: NCW: 1797
InscribedLower left: N. C. WYETH (underlined); Lower right: scratched into paint surface: © Charles Scribner’s Sons; written on reverse of canvas in black: WALLACE / AND / HELEN / SCOTTISH CHIEFS); written on reverse of canvas in red: 21 (circled); stretcher construced with keys stamped: stretcher keys marked: PAT.D / FEB 13 / 1883 / Jun 16 / 1886 / A. D. S.; stamped on left stretcher member: 32 x 40; partial label adhered to top stretcher member: ...YRIGHTED PICTURE IS THE / OF CHARLES SCRIBNER'S / TO BE RETURNED TO THEM; label adhered to top of frame: PINCHPENNY GALLERY / MADRID W. I. / 32 X 40 1/8 A 3/16 / DECAPE
ProvenanceThe artist (returned to him from Scribner's, 10/14/1922); ?; (Pinchpenny Gallery, in 1930s or 1940s); private collection and descended in family to 2012; (Somerville Manning Gallery, Greenville, DE, 2012);
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 215; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.868, p. 425
Curatorial RemarksIn preparation for this commission, Wyeth read an undated edition of The Scottish Chiefs published by Thomas D. Crowell Company, New York, illustrated with photographs of Scottish scenery (Brandywine River Museum NCWS.95.184). He also had in his studio library the 8 volume "Scottish Highlands, Highland Clans and Highland Regiments" pulished by Fullerton & Co. of Edinburgh (BRMA, NCWS.95.232.1-.8).
Wyeth was extremely concerned about the quality of the reproductions for this commission--he had generously used blue and green pigments throughout, difficult for printers to duplicate. For this commission, the plates were engraved by the Suffolk Engraving and Electrotyping Company (see Scribner's cards, Brandywine River Museum of Art) and printed by Bowker (NCW to Joseph Hawley Chapin, dated "Tuesday morning, 6:15" probably June, 1921, Archives of Charles Scribner's, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library).
Wyeth was extremely concerned about the quality of the reproductions for this commission--he had generously used blue and green pigments throughout, difficult for printers to duplicate. For this commission, the plates were engraved by the Suffolk Engraving and Electrotyping Company (see Scribner's cards, Brandywine River Museum of Art) and printed by Bowker (NCW to Joseph Hawley Chapin, dated "Tuesday morning, 6:15" probably June, 1921, Archives of Charles Scribner's, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:photography directly from painting after 2012 conservation work
Photo Credit:courtesy Joyce Stoner