Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
The wounded Helen
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1921
Dimensions:
40 1/4 × 32 in. (102.2 × 81.3 cm)
Private collection
Accession number: SUPP2000.177
Research Number: NCW: 177
InscribedUpper right: N. C. WYETH (underlined)
ProvenanceThe artist (returned to him from Scribner's, 10/14/1922): Charles Dana Burrage, Needham, MA, and descended in family; Martha E. Foster, Los Angeles, CA, by 1972; (Richard Layton, Wilmington, DE, 1972); Private collection, Grayslake, IL, and descended in family; (Sotheby's, New York, NY, May 21, 2009, lot no. 80; did not sell)
Exhibition HistoryChadds Ford, PA, 1972, no. 103; Chadds Ford, PA, 1976(1); Chadds Ford, PA, 1985
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 215; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.864, p. 424
Curatorial RemarksIn preparation for this commission, Wyeth read an undated edition of The Scottish Chiefs published by Thomas D. Crowell Company, New York, illustrated with photographs of Scottish scenery (Brandywine River Museum NCWS.95.184). He also had in his studio library the 8 volume "Scottish Highlands, Highland Clans and Highland Regiments" pulished by Fullerton & Co. of Edinburgh (BRMA, NCWS.95.232.1-.8).
Wyeth was extremely concerned about the quality of the reproductions for this commission--he had generously used blue and green pigments throughout, difficult for printers to duplicate. For this commission, the plates were engraved by the Suffolk Engraving and Electrotyping Company (see Scribner's cards, Brandywine River Museum of Art) and printed by Bowker (NCW to Joseph Hawley Chapin, dated "Tuesday morning, 6:15" probably June, 1921, Archives of Charles Scribner's, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library).
Wyeth was extremely concerned about the quality of the reproductions for this commission--he had generously used blue and green pigments throughout, difficult for printers to duplicate. For this commission, the plates were engraved by the Suffolk Engraving and Electrotyping Company (see Scribner's cards, Brandywine River Museum of Art) and printed by Bowker (NCW to Joseph Hawley Chapin, dated "Tuesday morning, 6:15" probably June, 1921, Archives of Charles Scribner's, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Transparency directly from painting
Photo Credit:Peter Ralston, www.pralston.com