Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
"Sit down," says the stranger. "I take what I have a mind to, sir."
Alternate Title(s):The Laughing Lady
Medium: Oil on hardboard (Renaissance Panel)
Date: ca. 1940
Dimensions:
approximately 26 x 26 in. (66 x 66 cm)
Private collection
Accession number: SUPP2000.707
Research Number: NCW: 707
InscribedUpper right: N. C. WYETH (underlined); Renaissance Panel label adhered to reverse, number 708, dated 8/11/1938; label adhered to reverse of panel: Crowell Collier Publishing Co. / Woman's Home Companion / Issue: May 1940 / Artist: N. C. Wyeth / Story: The Laughing Lady
ProvenanceThe artist: Mrs. N. C. Wyeth to October 1949; gift to present owner
Exhibition HistoryBryn Mawr, PA, Newman Galleries, "Wyeth Family Exhibition," Oct. 5-9, 1965
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 280; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.1304, p. 586
Curatorial RemarksThe Brandywine River Museum holds a lantern slide (NCWS.95.1825.187) of the composition drawing which was used in the transfer of the image from paper to panel.;Renaissance Panels numbered 706-715 were purchased in August, 1938. 706, 707 and 709-715 were used for the Morrell & Company calendar commission "America in the Making." In his income tax notes for 1939, Wyeth wrote that the picture of Daniel Boone in the calendar series was done twice, and the existing Daniel Boone image is on panel number 715 (see NCW 840, C.127). It may be that the first image of Daniel Boone was painted on panel number 708, and rejected for some reason, then redone on panel number 715. Wyeth then used the panel numbered 708 several years later for the Woman's Home Companion illustration. X-ray analysis, which might show the under image unless Wyeth used a lead white paint for repriming the surface, has not been undertaken.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:photography from artwork
Photo Credit:Rick Echelmeyer