Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
Through all the Years since 1886
Alternate Title(s):A Partner in Good Work; Sea Captain
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1935
Dimensions:
53 1/2 × 34 in. (135.9 × 86.4 cm)
Private collection
Used by permission, Courtesy of The Coca-Cola Company Archives
Accession number: SUPP2000.786
Research Number: NCW: 786
InscribedLower left: N. C. WYETH (underlined)
Provenanceunidentified St. Louis, MO, dealer, to 1971; Eleanor and Charles Foster, St. Louis, MO, to 2012; descended in the family to 2019;
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1972), p. 290; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), C.99, p. 669-670
Curatorial RemarksThe artist wrote the following about the painting for a company magazine, The Red Barrel: "When considering a subject for the Coca-Cola calendar I realized that the picture should symbolize refreshing coolness....To me the sparkling coast of the North Atlantic typified all that is refreshing and cool. The locale of the picture is a little fishing town not far from the Canadian border.The old salt sitting on the rail of his red dory is a real character whose wisdom and genial sense of humor is a constant delight. I have spent days in his company, fishing, hauling lobster traps or clamming and my profit from the association has always been far greater than the mere pleasure of fishing. The painting is a page from real life-a page that I loved to paint since the setting and characters are, I feel, part of my own life."
The Brandywine River Museum of Art holds the composition drawing (NCW 1558, 96.1.83) for this image, titled in the artist's hand " A Partner in Good Work." Museum file correspondence from the Coca-Cola Company (letter, Aug. 10, 1978) indicates that the actual painting was not the property of the Coca-Cola company.
The Brandywine River Museum of Art holds the composition drawing (NCW 1558, 96.1.83) for this image, titled in the artist's hand " A Partner in Good Work." Museum file correspondence from the Coca-Cola Company (letter, Aug. 10, 1978) indicates that the actual painting was not the property of the Coca-Cola company.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Photography directly from artwork
Photo Credit:Rick Echelmeyer, digital photography from snapshot, 12/1/2006