Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
"I am advertising the Brotherhood of Man, Simplicity, Truth, and Freedom from Possessions" (right side)
Alternate Title(s):If Christ Came to Sixth Avenue; The Sandwich-Man
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1914
Dimensions:
26 3/8 × 25 in. (67 × 63.5 cm)
Widener University Art Collection, Purchase 1984
Accession number: SUPP2000.728
Research Number: NCW: 728
InscribedPrinted label adhered to stretcher, with ink inscriptions: American Magazine / Number (hole in label) / Issue Dec. 1914 / Description N. C. Wyeth / "If Christ Came to Sixth (hole in label); along left stretcher bar in pencil: Wyeth 25 x 26 (one illegible word); all four stretcher keys are marked: PATd. / FEB. 13 / 1883 / JUNE 16 / 1885 / A. D. S.
ProvenanceWyeth family to ca. 1969; Private collection and descended in family, to 1984
Exhibition HistoryChadds Ford, PA, 2005
References
Richard Layton, "Inventory of Paintings in the Wyeth Studio, 1950," unpublished, Wyeth Family Archives, p. 69; Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1972), p. 252; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.539, p. 296
Curatorial RemarksThe other "half" of this painting has yet to come to light. Unfortunately, conservation treatment on the right portion has obscured any clues that would indicate whether the original image was painted as one horizontal picture, or whether the reproduced image is indeed a composite of two smaller canvases.
Wyeth illustrated two stories in the December 1914 issue of American Magazine. A letter, dated simply "Friday 4 PM" to HZW (WFA), noted: "...to cap it all, the American Magazine has turned down a Christmas story I did for it. I made unusual efforts to produce what they wanted by making a second series (which have just gone on the three o'clock train) but these latter pictures are no better, and I feel depressed as the deuce." Unfortunately, later correspondence does not make clear to which group he referred.
Wyeth illustrated two stories in the December 1914 issue of American Magazine. A letter, dated simply "Friday 4 PM" to HZW (WFA), noted: "...to cap it all, the American Magazine has turned down a Christmas story I did for it. I made unusual efforts to produce what they wanted by making a second series (which have just gone on the three o'clock train) but these latter pictures are no better, and I feel depressed as the deuce." Unfortunately, later correspondence does not make clear to which group he referred.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Transparency directly from painting
Photo Credit:1. Carson Zullinger 11/2003; 2. From tear sheet, Brandywine River Museum Library