Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
".... and preferred making friends among the rising generation, with whom he grew into great favor."
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1921
Dimensions:
40 × 29 1/2 in. (101.6 × 74.9 cm)
The Free Library of Philadelphia, Rare Book Department
Accession number: SUPP2000.1301
Research Number: NCW: 1301
InscribedLower right: N. C. WYETH (underlined); paper label taped to reverse: Gift of Mrs. Alex McKay (Alexander McKay of David McKay Publishers) Feb 4, 1954.
ProvenanceCollection of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander McKay, through 1953; Gift of Mrs. Alexander McKay, 1954, to the Free Library of Philadelphia
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1972), p. 207; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.855, p. 420, 421
Curatorial RemarksWyeth's memories of a civil war veteran who had lived across the Charles River from the Wyeths served as his inspiration for the figure of old Rip (NCW to ANW, dated in another hand July 28, 192, "It is singular that I have been using my memory of old Mr. Onion for the last pictures of Rip Van Winkle...", Wyeth Family Archives).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Digital photography directly from painting
Photo Credit:Will Brown, photographer