Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
The Christmas Ship in Old New York
Alternate Title(s):The Christmas Ship in New Amsterdam
Medium: Possibly original work was oil on canvas, and then adhered to board for enlargement.
Date: 1928
Dimensions:
53 × 136 in. (134.6 × 345.4 cm)
The Illustrated Gallery, Fort Washington, PA
Accession number: SUPP2000.816
Research Number: NCW: 816
InscribedUpper right, on a painted ribbon: N. C. WYETH (from photograph); on reverse, partial label of 1929 Art Directors Club exhibition: Advertiser--Name Interwoven Stocking Company / Address New (label loss) / Artist--Name N. C. Wyeth / Address Chadds Ford, Pa. / Product advertised Interwoven Socks / (label loss) the original to / F. A. Wilson, Advtg. Mgr., / Interwoven Stocking Co. / 730 Fifth Avenue, New York. / (further copy regarding the exhibition, including) The Art Directors Club will not be respon / sible for damage or loss of exhibits no matter / how the same may be caused, ...etc.
ProvenanceProbably Interwoven Stocking Company; (?); by 2012, The Illustrated Gallery, Fort Washington, PA
Exhibition HistoryNew York, NY, 1929, illustration in color ps. 52-53, and shown in photograph of gallery installation reproduced opposite "Foreword"
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), ps. 229, 288, 294; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), C.65, p. 658, 659
Curatorial RemarksTwo archival photographs of this painting (both originally from the artist's studio collection) are known (Brandywine River Museum library). One (#3236) is marked "Copyright 1928 by Interwoven Stocking Company," and inscribed on the reverse in the artist's hand "The Xmas ship in New Amsterdam." The other (unnumbered) shows major additions to the top and bottom, almost doubling the height of the painting, and other additions to each side. The enlarged painting was lettered in the space above the ship's mast "The Christmas Ship in Old New York, " and was the version displayed in New York in 1929. The painting was completed in January, 1928 (NCW to Andrew Newell Wyeth, Jan. 8, 1928, Boston Public Library.)
In the December 1928 issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine, the image is shown on a box cover, tucked under a Santa's arm (Brandywine River Museum, library collection). Andrew Wyeth confirmed that the Santa was not his father's work.
In the December 1928 issue of Good Housekeeping Magazine, the image is shown on a box cover, tucked under a Santa's arm (Brandywine River Museum, library collection). Andrew Wyeth confirmed that the Santa was not his father's work.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:1 and 2. photography directly from artwork; 3. photography directly from artwork (Brandywine River Museum library, archival photograph); 4. archival photograph showing painting before additions on all sides (Brandywine River Museum library, #3236); 5. photograph of installation scanned from "Eighth Annual of Advertising Art" published for the Art Directors Club of New York by the Book Service Company, 1929; 6. image as reproduced for Interwoven Stocking Company (Brandywine River Museum library, 5 5/8 x 14 in.)
Photo Credit:1. Courtesy of The Illustrated Gallery, Port Washington, PA; scans of archival material by BRM staff