Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
Books
Romance, History, Travel
Alternate Title(s):Romance and Adventure; Romance of Adventure; Days of Adventure
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: ca. 1927
Dimensions:
31 1/2 × 26 in. (80 × 66 cm)
Lucas Cultural Arts Museum
San Francisco, CA
Accession number: SUPP2000.303
Research Number: NCW: 303
Inscribedlower left: N. C. WYETH (underlined)
ProvenanceCollection of Wilhelmina Hagner, Wilmington, DE, to 1968; (Newman Galleries, Philadelphia, PA, 1968-1972, as "Days of Adventure"); Jane C. Wilcox, Essex, CT, to 2007; (Sotheby's, New York, NY, Nov. 28, 2007, lot no. 84);
Exhibition HistoryChadds Ford, PA, 1976(3), no. 120, as "Romance and Adventure"; Santa Barbara, CA, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, "Enchanted Images: American Children's Illustration, 1850-1925," Dec. 9, 1980 - Jan. 25, 1981, no. 81 on p. 66; Chadds Ford, PA, Brandywine River Museum, "Visions of Sugar Plums," Nov. 23, 1984 - Jan. 6, 1985
References
reproduced in St. Nicholas Magazine, vol. LV, no. 1 (November 1927), p. 48; Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 6 as "Romance of Adventure"; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), C.66, p. 659-660; Diego Cordoba, "N. C. Wyeth," in Illustrators Magazine (London: The Book Place), Autumn 2018, issue 23, illus. p. 17, as "Romance and Adventure";
Curatorial RemarksThe earliest recorded use for this image was to promote National Children's Book Week, Nov. 13-19, 1927, as noted in St. Nicholas Magazine, vol. LV, no. 1 (November 1927), p. 48.
Although the National Association of Book Publishers held the copyright to the image, it is not clear whether the organization, which went out of existence in 1934, actually owned the painting or purchased only reproduction rights. An archival photograph (Brandywine River Museum library # 3351) and a printed poster (Brandywine River Museum library #4347) show that the original design was strongly vertical with architectural-style text blocks at the top (BOOKS) and bottom (ROMANCE / HISTORY TRAVEL) in hand-lettering. The artist's initials (N. C. W.) were incorporated into the border of the lower block. The two blocks together made up slightly less than 1/3 the total height of the painting; it is not known when the blocks were removed.
Although the National Association of Book Publishers held the copyright to the image, it is not clear whether the organization, which went out of existence in 1934, actually owned the painting or purchased only reproduction rights. An archival photograph (Brandywine River Museum library # 3351) and a printed poster (Brandywine River Museum library #4347) show that the original design was strongly vertical with architectural-style text blocks at the top (BOOKS) and bottom (ROMANCE / HISTORY TRAVEL) in hand-lettering. The artist's initials (N. C. W.) were incorporated into the border of the lower block. The two blocks together made up slightly less than 1/3 the total height of the painting; it is not known when the blocks were removed.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:1. photography directly from artwork. 2. Archival photograph of painting in its original vertical format, showing lettering on canvas (Brandywine River Museum library, # 3351)
Photo Credit:1. A. Vincent Scarano, New London, CT, 7/2006; 2. no credit on photo, scan by BRM staff