Lewis and Clark

Artist:

N.C. Wyeth

(American, 1882 - 1945)

Lewis and Clark

Medium: Oil on hardboard (Renaissance Panel)
Date: 1938
Dimensions:
26 1/2 × 24 1/2 in. (67.3 × 62.2 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: SUPP2000.282
Research Number: NCW: 282
InscribedLower right: N. C. WYETH (underlined); adhered to reverse, Renaissance Panel label, no. 636, 3/18/38
ProvenanceJohn Morrell & Company, 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References N. C. Wyeth, Income tax notes for 1939 (unpublished, Brandywine River Museum library); Margaret G. Mackey, Your Country's Story (Boston: Ginn & Co., 1953), illus. p. 175; Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1972), ps. 156, 291; Kate F. Jennings, N. C. Wyeth (New York: Brompton Books Corp., Crescent Books, 1992), illus. in color, p. 77; John W. Grafton, America / A History of the First 500 Years (New York: Crescent Books, Random House, 1992); Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), C.123, p. 677
Curatorial RemarksAccording to Wyeth's income tax notes for 1939 (library, Brandywine River Museum), expenses for this painting included an unusual research trip to New York, as well as trips to Wilmington and Philadelphia. The Brandywine River Museum holds the lantern slide (NCWS.95.1825.167) made from the final composition drawing. The Andrew and Betsy Wyeth collection includes a fragment of the composition drawing (NCW 2198). The painting is dated by direct reference (NCW to CBW, "I have just signed..." and dated in another hand June 20, 1938, Wyeth Family Archives); it is one of three panels for the commission completed and sent to Ketterlinus by the end of June, 1938.
The BRM also holds a color proof (NCWS.95.6557) that from evidence of adhesive spots on the reverse probably was mounted like NCWS.95.6554 or NCWS.95.6562, bearing a stamp by Niagara Litho. Co.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Transparency directly from painting
Photo Credit:Iowa State University Photo Services