Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
untitled (men shooting at target)
Alternate Title(s):Skeet Shooting
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: ca. 1909 / 1912
Dimensions:
36 1/8 × 24 1/8 in. (91.8 × 61.3 cm)
Private collection
Accession number: SUPP2000.2036
Research Number: NCW: 2036
InscribedLower left: N. C. Wyeth (written in script; not by NCW)
Provenance(Christie's East, New York, NY, Jan. 29, 1982, lot no. 131, as "Skeet Shooting")
References
Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), C.12, p. 641
Curatorial RemarksThe guns depicted in this painting have been identified as Remington double barreled shotguns (Jenneifer Houze, Buffalo Bill Historical Center, to C. B. Podmaniczky, Dec. 12, 1996, Brandywine River Museum), however, the prominence of the cartridges on the deck may indicate that this was a preliminary sketch for an ammunitions advertisement. Wyeth wrote his family, "Did I tell you that I went into a competition for a powder advertising picture and won out? We simply submitted rough sketches" (NCW to Henriette Zirngiebel Wyeth, "I made a vow..." and dated in another hand April 23, 1909, Wyeth Family Archives).
The painting was sold in 1982 as signed in the lower left, but the present signature is likely false. Notes made by Nicholas Wyeth in 1981 confirm that the Wyeth family felt the signature was not authentic, and the Brandywine River Museum holds an archival photograph of the picture (stamped: Brenwasser / Photographer of Fine Art / 1143 Park Avenue, N.Y.C.) in which the signature does not appear. In 1981, members of the Wyeth family identified the main figure as John Andress, Chadds Ford resident and friend of the artist (Brandywine River Museum, catalogue raisonne files). Andress appears in other hunting pictures by Wyeth.
The painting was sold in 1982 as signed in the lower left, but the present signature is likely false. Notes made by Nicholas Wyeth in 1981 confirm that the Wyeth family felt the signature was not authentic, and the Brandywine River Museum holds an archival photograph of the picture (stamped: Brenwasser / Photographer of Fine Art / 1143 Park Avenue, N.Y.C.) in which the signature does not appear. In 1981, members of the Wyeth family identified the main figure as John Andress, Chadds Ford resident and friend of the artist (Brandywine River Museum, catalogue raisonne files). Andress appears in other hunting pictures by Wyeth.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:b/w photography directly from artwork (Brandywine River Museum catalogue raisonne files)