Peter Hurd in a Landscape

Artist:

Henriette Wyeth

(American, 1907 - 1997)
Sitter:

Peter Hurd

(American, 1904 - 1984)

Peter Hurd in a Landscape

Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1972
Dimensions:
40 × 48 1/4 in. (101.6 × 122.6 cm)
Accession number: 97.18
Copyright: © artist, artist's estate, or other rights holders
Label Copy:
The oldest child of N.C. Wyeth and his wife, Carolyn, Henriette studied art with her father, as well as at the Normal Art School in Boston and the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. In 1929 she married the artist Peter Hurd, her father’s student, and they moved to his native New Mexico to paint and raise a family.


Henriette painted landscapes and floral still lifes, and was also nationally known as a portraitist. Over her career she also made sensitive portraits of family members Here she connects her husband, the artist Peter Hurd, to the landscape of his native New Mexico, which figured prominently in his art. She depicts him as monumental as the broad desert and low mountains behind him. The play of cool and warm tones in his figure is repeated in the hills and unifies the painting. Known as an active, energetic man, Hurd’s expression, though with hat in hand as if ready to go, nonetheless exudes patience and self-assurance. His arms are folded yet relaxed across his chest over the Mexican leather jacket that is delicately ornamented with silver thread.
Curatorial RemarksSitter is spouse of the artist.