Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
George Washington
Alternate Title(s):America Must Go Forward; Forward, America!
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1931
Dimensions:
44 × 38 in. (111.8 × 96.5 cm)
Private collection, Philadelphia, PA
Used with permission of New York Life Insurance Company
Accession number: SUPP2000.1145
Research Number: NCW: 1145
InscribedLower left: N. C. WYETH (underlined)
ProvenanceKetterlinus Co., Philadelphia, PA, ca. 1932-1940; Private collection, 1940-1973; The Franklin Mint, Franklin Mills, PA, 1973-1975; (Newman Galleries, Philadelphia, PA, 1975)
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 288, 291; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), C.77, p. 663-664
Curatorial RemarksThe print for Strawbrige & Clothier (image size 14 7/16 x 12 3/8 in., BRMA Research Center, # 4345), a Philadelphia department store, carried the following inscriptions: below signature in lower left of image: © F.A.S.; legend below image: Published for Strawbridge & Clothier by Ketterlinus Co. In commemoration of the 200th Anniversary of the birth of George Washington / (1732-1932) / Whose magnificent achievements in spite of pessimism and indifference / should ever prove an inspiration to American courage and confidence. Among the ephemera found in N. C. Wyeth's sutdio was a copy of this reproduction adhered to a mount with the following inscription in Wyeth's hand: WASHINGTON - THE NATION MAKER (BRMA, NCWS.95.6552)
The Ketterlinus calendar (image size 14 1/4 x 12 ¼ in., BRMA Research Center, # 4345a) is marked: © F. A. S.; above image: KETTERLINUS / PHILADELPHIA / NEW YORK CHICAGO BOSTON; below image: America Must Go Forward.
The New York Life Insurance calendar image measures 14 3/8 x 12 3/8 in. (BRMA Research Center, unnumbered; probably reproduced at 8 1/8 x 7 in.), printed with following legend below image: New York Life Insurance Company's Reproduction of a Painting by N. C. Wyeth. Lithographed by Ketterlinus. / May our hearts ever draw inspiration from George Washington's courage / his integrity and his abiding faith in our destiny as a free nation.
The original copyright holder of this piece, identified on all reproductions as "F. A. S.," is probably F. A. Schneider. In a 1916 article in the American Printer, F. A. Schneider is identified as the "superintendent of the calendar department of Ketterlinus Lithographic Manufacturing company." (The American Printer, vol. 63, no. 5 (September 5, 1916), p. 78). Schenider held the copyright on at least one other image by N. C. Wyeth.
The Brandywine River Museum of Art holds an archival photograph of the composition drawn in charcoal on the canvas prior to the application of color (Brandywine River Museum Research Center, # 3206).
The Ketterlinus calendar (image size 14 1/4 x 12 ¼ in., BRMA Research Center, # 4345a) is marked: © F. A. S.; above image: KETTERLINUS / PHILADELPHIA / NEW YORK CHICAGO BOSTON; below image: America Must Go Forward.
The New York Life Insurance calendar image measures 14 3/8 x 12 3/8 in. (BRMA Research Center, unnumbered; probably reproduced at 8 1/8 x 7 in.), printed with following legend below image: New York Life Insurance Company's Reproduction of a Painting by N. C. Wyeth. Lithographed by Ketterlinus. / May our hearts ever draw inspiration from George Washington's courage / his integrity and his abiding faith in our destiny as a free nation.
The original copyright holder of this piece, identified on all reproductions as "F. A. S.," is probably F. A. Schneider. In a 1916 article in the American Printer, F. A. Schneider is identified as the "superintendent of the calendar department of Ketterlinus Lithographic Manufacturing company." (The American Printer, vol. 63, no. 5 (September 5, 1916), p. 78). Schenider held the copyright on at least one other image by N. C. Wyeth.
The Brandywine River Museum of Art holds an archival photograph of the composition drawn in charcoal on the canvas prior to the application of color (Brandywine River Museum Research Center, # 3206).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:1. (digitally adjusted) photography directly from artwork; 2. Image drawn in charcoal on canvas, prior to application of paint, from archival photograph, Brandywine River Museum Library, no. 3206
Photo Credit:1. Courtesy of Newman Galleries, Philadelphia, PA; Luna Imaging, Inc.