Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
Reception to Washington on April 21, 1789, at Trenton on his way to New York to Assume the Duties of the Presidency of the United States, preparatory sketch
Medium: Watercolor and gouache on paper adhered to cardboard
Date: 1928
Dimensions:
sight: 44 × 29 in. (111.8 × 73.7 cm)
Wells Fargo Art Collection, St. Louis, Missouri
Accession number: SUPP2000.1122
Research Number: NCW: 1122
InscribedLower right: N. C. Wyeth / 1930 -- ; lower left: A PREPARATORY SKETCH FOR THE / HISTORICAL PANEL PLACED IN THE / FIRST MECHANICS-NATIONAL BANK (underlined) / TRENTON N. J.
ProvenanceFirst Mechanics National Bank, Trenton, NJ; by bank mergers to present owner
References
Ann Shipley, "The Society Hour Glass," (Wilmington, DE) Sunday Morning Star, March 25, 1928, p. 17; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), M.43, p. 618
Curatorial RemarksThe date on the front of the work must be the date the painting was signed and inscribed, because correspondence clearly indicates that work on this piece was underway earlier. In a letter dated Feb. 14 (1928), Wyeth laid out the subject of this composition (NCW to Andrew Newell Wyeth, Feb. 14 and dated 1928 in another hand). Ten days later, he wrote, "...a sketch for the first panel in the Trenton Bank is started" (NCW to Andrew Newell Wyeth, Feb. 24, 1928, both letters, Wyeth Family Archives). The sheet has a 3 3/4" strip adhered to the top, but it is not known when the addition was made. A lantern slide of this painting, found in the artist's studio, is extant, probably used in the process of scaling up the design (NCWS.95.1825.36, Brandywine River Museum Library).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:digital photography directly from artwork
Photo Credit:Rick Echelmeyer, 5/2006