Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
All day, held spell-bound by this wonderful sight, the hermit crouched in the shadow of the rocks.
Alternate Title(s):The Coming of the Huns
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1910
Dimensions:
47 × 38 in. (119.4 × 96.5 cm)
The New York Public Library
Accession number: SUPP2000.656
Research Number: NCW: 656
InscribedLower right: N. C. WYETH (underlined) / 1910
ProvenanceCharles Scribner' Sons, New York, NY, 1910-1916
Exhibition HistoryPhiladelphia, PA, 1912(2), no. 174
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1972), p. 275; David Michaelis, N. C. Wyeth, A Biography (New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 1998), illustration in color after p. 52; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.317, p. 214
Curatorial RemarksNCW wrote to his mother Dec. 27, 1909, "Was called to N.Y. Friday and met Conan Doyle. Am to paint three pictures to illustrate important writings of his to appear in Aug. Scribner's. He suggested I do them." The paintings NCW did, this and three others, appeared in issues dated Nov. and Dec. 2010 and Jan. 2011.
The artist noted in a letter that he was present when "ten of my originals (were) installed permanently, in the children's reading room of the New York Public Library on Fifth Ave." (NCW to ANW, dated in another handFeb. 26, 1916).
The composition is similar to one drawn in pen and ink by Howard Pyle for "A Forgotten Tale" by Arthur Conan Doyle, published in Scribner's Magazine, January 1895, page 16.
The artist noted in a letter that he was present when "ten of my originals (were) installed permanently, in the children's reading room of the New York Public Library on Fifth Ave." (NCW to ANW, dated in another handFeb. 26, 1916).
The composition is similar to one drawn in pen and ink by Howard Pyle for "A Forgotten Tale" by Arthur Conan Doyle, published in Scribner's Magazine, January 1895, page 16.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:1. Transparency directly from painting; 2. Howard Pyle illustration from Scribner's Magazine
Photo Credit:1. Schecter Lee; 2. BRM staff