Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
The Cornhuskers
Alternate Title(s):Autumn Brandywine; Corn Huskers
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: ca. 1934
Dimensions:
52 1/8 × 48 1/4 in. (132.4 × 122.6 cm)
West Chester University, Permanent Art Collection
Accession number: SUPP2000.1174
Research Number: NCW: 1174
InscribedLower right: N. C. WYETH / AW; on reverse, upper left in pencil: 37 x 40; carved into back of one frame member: F. COLL
ProvenanceThe artist; Mrs. N. C. Wyeth to Feb. 1947
References
[West Chester, PA] Daily-Local, Feb. 1, 1947, and Feb. 12, 1947; Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1972), p. 279; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, Catalogue Raisonne of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), L.180, p. 759
Curatorial RemarksIn August, 1935, Wyeth wrote from Port Clyde directing that a painting he called "Autumn Brandywine" be framed, packed and shipped to The American Artists Company, New York (NCW to John McCoy, Aug. 9, 1935, Wyeth Family Archives). He described "Autumn Brandywine" as the one "with the corn harvester" and the same size as "Washday, Port Clyde." (Based on the prominence of the figure in this painting, it is assumed that Wyeth is referring to this canvas rather than NCW 115, another picture of the same date and size that also includes a less important corn harvester and to which he later in the same month referred to as the "October Brandywine valley canvas.") It is likely that Woman's Day purchased the reproduction rights from American Artists.
NCW 204 is a later oil and tempera version of the same motif, in which Wyeth removed the foreground figure and changed the coloration. The Brandywine River Museum holds a lantern slide of the oil version (NCWS.95.1825.188) that probably was used in the transfer of the design from canvas to hardboard panel. The picture retains its original frame, undoubtedly selected by the artist. Francis A. Coll (1884-1969) of Wilmington, Delaware, supplied many frames to N. C. Wyeth beginning in the mid-1920s.
NCW 204 is a later oil and tempera version of the same motif, in which Wyeth removed the foreground figure and changed the coloration. The Brandywine River Museum holds a lantern slide of the oil version (NCWS.95.1825.188) that probably was used in the transfer of the design from canvas to hardboard panel. The picture retains its original frame, undoubtedly selected by the artist. Francis A. Coll (1884-1969) of Wilmington, Delaware, supplied many frames to N. C. Wyeth beginning in the mid-1920s.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Transparency directly from painting
Photo Credit:Rick Echelmeyer, 3/2001