Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
"Corn Harvest in the Hill Country" (Progressive Farmer Magazine, cover illustration)
Alternate Title(s):The Husker; The Corn Husker
Medium: Oil on hardboard
Date: 1945
Dimensions:
26 × 20 1/2 in. (66 × 52.1 cm)
The Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum
Accession number: SUPP2000.815
Research Number: NCW: 815
InscribedLower right: N C WYETH (underlined)
ProvenanceAmerican Artists Company, New York, NY, 1945-1949; Mr. J. S. Shaw, Coshocton, OH, 1949-1964; Cornelia Middents, 1964-1988
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 270, 292, color illustration p. 71; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.1318, p. 591
Curatorial RemarksThis is a good example of how Wyeth maximized his income by permitting multiple uses of an image. In this case, Wyeth's agent, American Artists Company, sold first reproduction rights to Progressive Farmer Magazine. "Second rights" were sold to Shaw-Barton, Coshocton, OH, a company that produced calendars for other businesses to distribute. Shaw-Barton's ledger indicates that the painting was received July 9, 1946. The calendar was printed and sold in 1947, for the 1948 calendar year. The McCormick Transportation Company of Wilmington, DE, was one of the many companies that chose to distribute this calendar marked with their business address (Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., p. 292).
There are two preliminary drawings for this painting. In one (NCW 1569), titled "Corn Husker," the foreground figure's head obscures the heads of the horses. In the second drawing (NCW 2113) the horse heads are visible over the figure's proper right shoulder. Dr. Clarence Poe of Progressive Farmer was a notoriously demanding patron; he may have requested the change.
There are two preliminary drawings for this painting. In one (NCW 1569), titled "Corn Husker," the foreground figure's head obscures the heads of the horses. In the second drawing (NCW 2113) the horse heads are visible over the figure's proper right shoulder. Dr. Clarence Poe of Progressive Farmer was a notoriously demanding patron; he may have requested the change.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Transparency directly from painting
Photo Credit:Courtesy of the Johnson-Humrickhouse Museum