Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
The Carpenters Repairing Hubbard's Bridge
Medium: Oil on hardboard (Renaissance Panel)
Date: 1936
Dimensions:
38 3/4 × 28 3/4 in. (98.4 × 73 cm)
Presented to the Concord Free Public Library
by Mr. and Mrs. Caleb Henry Wheeler in memory of Caleb Kendall Wheeler, 1947
Accession number: SUPP2000.1377
Research Number: NCW: 1377
InscribedLower left: N. C. WYETH; adhered to reverse, remnants of Renaissance Panel label; painted on reverse in artist's hand: NOTICE (underlined) / DO NOT, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES / RMOVE THIS PANEL FROM ITS FRAM (missing) / APPLY NO VASELINE, VARNISH, OR OTHER / MATERIALS WHATSOEVER TO THIS PAINTIN (missing) / N. C. WYETH (underlined)
ProvenanceThe artist; Mrs. N. C. Wyeth; Mr. and Mrs. Caleb H. Wheeler, to 1947
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 221; Allen French, T. M. Longstreth, and David B. Little, A History of the Concord Free Public Library (Concord, MA: The Library Corp., 1973), p. 20; Leslie Perrin Wilson, "N. C. Wyeth, Thoreau and Men of Concord," The Concord Saunterer, New Series vol. 8 (2000), illustration in b/w p. 64, which includes letters at the Concord Free Public Library about the painting; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.1209, p. 549
Curatorial RemarksThe artist wrote to the future purchaser of the painting, "it has been widely exhibited and has suffered in handling" (N. C. Wyeth to Ruth R. Wheeler, May 15, 1945, as quoted in Wilson, The Concord Saunterer, p. 84). It was the practice of publishers to send the art work for major titles to various book stores for display; no other exhibition records for this painting have come to light.
The Brandywine River Museum holds an archival photograph of this painting stamped: Sanborn Studio / Wil., Del.; and a lantern slide (NCWS.95.1825.107) of the composition drawing. Originally the painting was slightly larger, with a white border of approximately 1 5/8 inches around the image. The border has been cut away, which accounts for the missing letters in the inscription on the reverse of the panel.
The Brandywine River Museum holds an archival photograph of this painting stamped: Sanborn Studio / Wil., Del.; and a lantern slide (NCWS.95.1825.107) of the composition drawing. Originally the painting was slightly larger, with a white border of approximately 1 5/8 inches around the image. The border has been cut away, which accounts for the missing letters in the inscription on the reverse of the panel.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:1. digital photography directly from artwork; 2. reverse of panel
Photo Credit:1. Anderson Photo, Concord, MA; 2. Courtesy of Carmichael Art Conservation