Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
George Washington at Yorktown
Medium: Oil on hardboard (Renaissance Panel)
Date: 1938 / 1939
Dimensions:
26 3/4 × 25 in. (67.9 × 63.5 cm)
Gift of John Morrell & Company. In the permanent collection,
University Museums, Iowa State University, Ames, Iowa.
Image © University Museums, Iowa State University, 2006
http://www.museums.iastate.edu
Accession number: SUPP2000.280
Research Number: NCW: 280
InscribedLower right: N. C. WYETH (underlined); adhered to reverse, Renaissance Panel label, no. 710, dated 8/11/(19)38
ProvenanceJohn Morrell & Comapny, Ottumwa, IA, to 1940
Exhibition HistoryOttumwa, IA, 1940; Chadds Ford, PA, 1976(2); Ames, IA, Brunnier Art Museum, "N. C. Wyeth: America in the Making," Nov. 2, 2010-May 8, 2011;
References
N. C. Wyeth, Income tax notes for 1939 (unpublished, Brandywine River Museum); Margaret G. Mackey, Your Country's Story (Boston: Ginn & Co., 1953), illustration p. 123; Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), ps. 156, 291; Kate F. Jennings, N. C. Wyeth (New York: Brompton Books Corp., Crescent Books, 1992), color illustration, p. 83; Tom Brokaw, David Michaelis, Lauren Raye Smith, One Nation, Patriots and Pirates Portrayed by N. C. Wyeth and James Wyeth (Boston: Bulfinch Press, Little, Brown and Co., 2000), color illustration, fig. 1 on p. 2. ; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), C.129, p. 680
Curatorial RemarksAccording to Wyeth's income tax notes for 1939 (library, Brandywine River Museum), expenses for this painting included a two day trip to Yorktown, costume rental and the purchase of a life mask of Washington. The mask, probably ordered from P. P. Caproni Brothers of Boston, appears in a photograph of the studio taken just after Wyeth's death (Wyeth Family Archives) but is no longer in the studio collection. The charcoal composition drawing for this painting is known (NCW 2355), and the Brandywine River Museum holds the lantern slide (NCWS.95.1825.159) of the drawing which the artist used to transfer the design from paper to panel.
One of the differences between the drawing and the finished painting rests in Washington's sword. Non-descript and partially hidden by the cloak in the drawing, the sword in the painting has a very elaborate cut-and-thrust hanger with a reversed D grip pommel. Curators at Mount Vernon are unware of a similar sword with a Washington provenance.
One of the differences between the drawing and the finished painting rests in Washington's sword. Non-descript and partially hidden by the cloak in the drawing, the sword in the painting has a very elaborate cut-and-thrust hanger with a reversed D grip pommel. Curators at Mount Vernon are unware of a similar sword with a Washington provenance.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Digital photography directly from painting