Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
The Hamilton Mural, alternate composition
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1921
Dimensions:
40 3/16 × 35 7/8 in. (102.1 × 91.1 cm)
Brandywine Museum of Art, Bequest of Carolyn Wyeth, 1996
Accession number: 96.1.22
Research Number: NCW: 899
Exhibition HistoryThe artist to 1945; Mrs. N. C. Wyeth to 1973; Carolyn Wyeth to 1994; Brandywine River Museum, Bequest of Carolyn Wyeth, 1996.
References
N. C. Wyeth, "The Hamilton Mural Painting," Federal Reserve Society News, vol. 4, no. 1 (April 1922), ps. 2-4, 18, illus. b/w; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), M.11, p. 600
Curatorial RemarksIn a letter to his mother dated Feb. 18, 1921 Wyeth made it clear that he had not yet completed the research for this picture. He had hoped to picture Hamilton speaking at the Old State House in Boston, but Henry Cabot Lodge convinced him that Hamilton had never spoken there. A further description by the artist of the genesis of the composition was printed in the Federal Reserve Society News in April, 1922 (Brandywine River Museum library, 4742). This version represents one of the discarded concepts. Two books in Wyeth's studio library contain notes that indicate the artist used them as reference for this commission: Alexander Hamilton by Henry Cabot Lodge (NCWS.95.683) and Alexander Hamilton by Henry Jones Ford (NCWS.95.694).
The painting was photographed in 1969, one of approximately 3 dozen paintings from the artist's studio that had been stored unstretched (Brandywine River Museum, catalogue raisonné files). Its present condition is the result of creasing when it was unstretched.
NCW 2656, a drawing, may be related to this commission.
The painting was photographed in 1969, one of approximately 3 dozen paintings from the artist's studio that had been stored unstretched (Brandywine River Museum, catalogue raisonné files). Its present condition is the result of creasing when it was unstretched.
NCW 2656, a drawing, may be related to this commission.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:transparency directly from painting
Photo Credit:Rick Echelmeyer, 1/2005