Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
The Husking Bee, composition drawing
Medium: Charcoal on paper
Date: ca. 1940
Dimensions:
50 1/4 × 35 7/8 in. (127.6 × 91.1 cm)
Brandywine Museum of Art, Bequest of Carolyn Wyeth, 1996
Accession number: 96.1.507
Research Number: NCW: 2059
Inscribednone
ProvenanceThe artist; Mrs. N. C. Wyeth; Carolyn Wyeth
Curatorial RemarksThis composition drawing was submitted to Progressive Farmer as a prospective cover in early 1940. Clarence Poe, editor of Progressive Farmer, found fault with many details, such as the height of the piles of corn, the presence of stalks, and the height of the lanterns (letter marked COPY Aug. 29, 1941, Progressive Farmer to American Artists, Wyeth Family Archives), but Poe's comments were not relayed to Wyeth. Wyeth completed the painting in accordance with the drawing and Poe refused to use the image on Progressive Farmer. The Brandywine River Museum holds a lantern slide of the drawing (NCWS.95.1825.189), used in the transfer of the design from paper to panel (NCW 1868).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:photography directly from artwork
Photo Credit:Rick Echelmeyer