Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come, cover label illustration
Alternate Title(s):Kentucky Shepherd
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1930 / 1931
Dimensions:
approximately 36 1/2 x 30 in. (91.4 x 76.1 cm)
Collection of William John Pignonello
Accession number: SUPP2000.1718
Research Number: NCW: 1718
InscribedUpper left: N. C. WYETH (underlined)
ProvenanceThe artist; Mrs. N. C. Wyeth, to at least 1950; (?); (American Illustrators Gallery, New York, NY, 1978)
Exhibition Historyprobably Wilmington, DE, 1932, no. 50, as "Kentucky Shepherd"
References
Richard Layton, "Inventory of Paintings in the Wyeth Studio, 1950," unpublished, Wyeth Family Archives, p. 33; Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 205; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.1149, p. 530
Curatorial RemarksThe N. C. Wyeth House/Studio library includes a 1903 edition of this title (NCWS.95.655), illustrated by F. C. Yohn. The copy contains notations Wyeth made as he planned his own edition. The present work was originally longer lengthwise. An archival photograph (BRM) shows the complete cover design, including text block and lettering. It is inscribed on the reverse in the artist's hand, "entablature and lettering / painted out with folliage (sic) completed / N. C. W," indicating that after publication Wyeth removed a portion of the bottom of the canvas and overpainted what remained of the title box with a continuation of the foliage. The painting was originally signed in the lower left. The artist's efforts to make this painting look less like an illustration indicates that it was probably the painting shown in the Wilmington, DE, 1932 exhibition under the title "Kentucky Shepherd."
This book was not intended as part of the holiday gift book series that Wyeth had done earlier for Scribner's. A letter to the artist from Arthur H. Scribner (Aug. 27, 1930), makes it clear that the publishers hoped to have this book out in May or June, 1931 (Scribner's Archives, Princeton University Library).;An 8 x 10 black and white photograph (Brandywine River Museum, NCWS.95. 861) of a blooming rhododendron plant was found in Wyeth's studio, with the following inscription, not in the artist's hand, on the reverse, "This is a catawbiense hybrid, but looks exactly like a very perfect catawbiense." Rhododendron catawbiense is a species of Rhododendron native to the eastern United States, growing mainly in the Apalachian Mountains from Virginia south to northern Alabama. The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come is set in Kentucky.
This book was not intended as part of the holiday gift book series that Wyeth had done earlier for Scribner's. A letter to the artist from Arthur H. Scribner (Aug. 27, 1930), makes it clear that the publishers hoped to have this book out in May or June, 1931 (Scribner's Archives, Princeton University Library).;An 8 x 10 black and white photograph (Brandywine River Museum, NCWS.95. 861) of a blooming rhododendron plant was found in Wyeth's studio, with the following inscription, not in the artist's hand, on the reverse, "This is a catawbiense hybrid, but looks exactly like a very perfect catawbiense." Rhododendron catawbiense is a species of Rhododendron native to the eastern United States, growing mainly in the Apalachian Mountains from Virginia south to northern Alabama. The Little Shepherd of Kingdom Come is set in Kentucky.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:1. directly from artwork; 2. Black and white photograph of painting, prior to reworking by the artist; 3. black and white photograph (NCWS.95.861, Brandywine River Museum)
Photo Credit:1. Courtesy of owner; 2. Photographer unknown (Brandywine River Museum, N.C. Wyeth collections, archival photographs); 3. Photographer unknown