Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
Pioneers
Medium: Oil on hardboard (Renaissance Panel)
Date: 1939
Dimensions:
36 3/8 × 24 in. (92.4 × 61 cm)
Christiana Care Health System
Accession number: SUPP2000.1152
Research Number: NCW: 1152
InscribedUpper left: N. C. WYETH (underlined); adhered to reverse, Renaissance Panel label no. 640, dated 3/18/38
ProvenanceHercules Powder Company, Inc. (Hercules Incorporated), Wilmington, DE, 1939-2001; (Christie's, New York, Nov. 29, 2001); MBNA America, Wilmington, DE, to 2002
Exhibition HistoryDover, DE, Wesley College, "The Wyeth Family," April 29 - May 6, 1973; Wilmington, DE, Delaware Art Museum, "Hercules Original Calendar Art from the Period 1918 to 1955," Aug.-Sept. 1990 (also shown in Wilmington, DE, Atrium, Hercules Plaza, Nov.-Dec. 1990)
References
N. C. Wyeth, Income tax notes for 1939 (unpublished, Brandywine River Museum Library); Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 153; Bob Strauss, Beverly Strauss, American Sporting Advertising, Vol. I, Posters and Calendars (Jefferson, ME: Circus Promotions Corp., 1987), HE-27; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), C.133, p. 682
Curatorial RemarksThe Brandywine River Museum holds the charcoal and pencil composition drawing for this image (96.1.522) and the lantern slide (NCWS.95.1825.177) used in the transfer of the design from paper to panel. The artist's income tax notes for this painting itemize the expense of a trip "to Harrisburg for Covered Wagon" --possibly displayed at the State Museum; the Conestoga wagon currently in the collection was accessioned in 1950.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:photography from artwork
Photo Credit:Courtesy of Christie's, 2001