Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
Bruce on the beach
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1921
Dimensions:
39 × 32 in. (99.1 × 81.3 cm)
The Kelly Collection of American Illustration
Accession number: SUPP2000.496
Research Number: NCW: 496
InscribedLower left: © C. S. SON'S (sic) / N. C. WYETH (underlined)
ProvenanceThe artist (returned to him from Scribner's, 10/14/1922); (?); Collection of Mr. and Mrs. John M. Carter and descended in family; (Somerville Manning Gallery, Greenville, DE, 1994)
Exhibition HistoryPhiladelphia, PA, 1921; Philadelphia, PA, 1925; Rockland, ME, 1966, no. 57; Ashland, VA, Randolph-Macon College, "Howard Pyle and His Students: Works From the Kelly Collection of American Illustration," 7 Oct.-9 Dec. 1995, no. 32, illus. b/w (unpaginated); Abingdon, VA, William King Regional Arts Center, "Adventure Ho! Popular American Illustrations, 1897-1935," October 20, 1998-Jan. 20, 1999, illus. in color facing p. 1, see also p. 23; Knoxville, TN, Knoxville Museum of Art, "Distant Lands: the Art of the Story / Works from the Kelly Collection of American Illustration, 1894-1938," Jan. 19-May 6, 2001, no. 47, illus. in color on cover and p. 2; New York, NY, Dahesh Museum, "Stories to Tell: Masterworks from the Kelly Collection of American Illustration," Feb. 14 - May 21, 2006, no. 86, illus. p. 76;
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1972), p. 215; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.869, p. 425
Curatorial RemarksIn preparation for this commission, Wyeth read an undated edition of The Scottish Chiefs published by Thomas D. Crowell Company, New York, illustrated with photographs of Scottish scenery (Brandywine River Museum NCWS.95.184). He also had in his studio library the 8 volume "Scottish Highlands, Highland Clans and Highland Regiments" pulished by Fullerton & Co. of Edinburgh (BRMA, NCWS.95.232.1-.8).
John M. Carter's name appears in N. C. Wyeth's address book (NCWS.95.1174, Brandywine River Museum library), the son of Chadds Ford doctor and a friend of the artist.
Wyeth was extremely concerned about the quality of the reproductions for this commission--he had generously used blue and green pigments throughout, difficult for printers to duplicate. For this commission, the plates were engraved by the Suffolk Engraving and Electrotyping Company (see Scribner's cards, Brandywine River Museum of Art) and printed by Bowker (NCW to Joseph Hawley Chapin, dated "Tuesday morning, 6:15" probably June, 1921, Archives of Charles Scribner's, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library).
John M. Carter's name appears in N. C. Wyeth's address book (NCWS.95.1174, Brandywine River Museum library), the son of Chadds Ford doctor and a friend of the artist.
Wyeth was extremely concerned about the quality of the reproductions for this commission--he had generously used blue and green pigments throughout, difficult for printers to duplicate. For this commission, the plates were engraved by the Suffolk Engraving and Electrotyping Company (see Scribner's cards, Brandywine River Museum of Art) and printed by Bowker (NCW to Joseph Hawley Chapin, dated "Tuesday morning, 6:15" probably June, 1921, Archives of Charles Scribner's, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Transparency directly from painting
Photo Credit:Greg Staley