Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
The Sheriff
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1908
Dimensions:
38 1/8 × 25 1/4 in. (96.8 × 64.1 cm)
American Illustrators Gallery, New York, NY
Accession number: SUPP2000.11
Research Number: NCW: 11
InscribedLower left: N. C. WYETH (underlined) / 08-
ProvenanceThe artist; The Osborne Company, New York, NY, 1909-1911; Charles Scribner's Sons, New York, NY, ca. 1911-1975; [Frank E. Fowler]; S. Hallock du Pont, Jr., 1975-2003; (American Illustrators Gallery, New York, NY); (Gerald Peters Gallery to 3/2008);
Exhibition HistoryHarrisburg, PA, 1965, no. 45; Chadds Ford, PA, 1971, no. 56; Cody, WY, 1980, p. 56, b/w illus. plate 21; Chadds Ford, PA, 1990(2), b/w illus. p. 79, cat. no. 35 on p. 83 (with incorrect date and incorrect reference)
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1972), p. 275; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.264, p. 193
Curatorial RemarksWyeth painted this image on speculation, and sold the painting directly to the Osborne Company of New York, a company which reproduced "advertising art, calendars, indoor billboards and holiday greetings." The sale netted Wyeth $250.00, according to a letter he wrote his wife from New York and mailed on Jan. 14, 1909 (Wyeth Family Archives). The Osborne Company did not use the image and in 1911 sold the painting to Scribner's for $150 (Thomas Graham of the Osborne Company to James P. Simpson, July 18, 1946, Brandywine River Museum library). The sale included ownership of the painting and the right to reproduce the image in Scribner's Magazine (Scribner's file, Brandywine River Museum library). The painting was published solely for its interest and artistic merit, unrelated to a story or article. In Nov.1931, the painting was loaned to Scribner's California office for an unspecified period.
Jim Ellis (museum volunteer, 2007) has identified the gun prominent in the picture as a Winchester Rifle model '73, one of which was included in Wyeth's studio collection (NCWS.95.2403).
Jim Ellis (museum volunteer, 2007) has identified the gun prominent in the picture as a Winchester Rifle model '73, one of which was included in Wyeth's studio collection (NCWS.95.2403).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Transparency directly from painting
Photo Credit:Courtesy S. Hallock duPont, Jr.