Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
Public Health and Morale
Medium: Oil on hardboard (Renaissance Panel)
Date: ca. 1943
Dimensions:
32 3/8 × 25 in. (82.2 × 63.5 cm)
Brandywine River Museum of Art, Gift of Bristol-Myers Squibb, 2014
Accession number: 2014.7
Research Number: NCW: 1310
InscribedLower right: N. C. WYETH (underlined); Adhered to reverse: Renaissance Panel label, numbered 1025 and dated 6/30/41, with dimensions given as 25 x 38 1/4"
ProvenanceE. R. Squibb & Sons, New York, NY
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, Inc., 1972), ps. 289, 295; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), C.174, p. 696
Curatorial RemarksAn archival photograph (Brandywine River Museum library collection) depicts this image in an earlier state. There is no indication of the airplanes; they may have been added later to depict another aspect of the war economy.
Archival material at Bristol-Meyers Squibb shows that this image was used as standup window display poster. The cardboard standup would be centered in the middle of a window display with Squibb products all around. In another example, the image appears in an instructional flyer showing how to setup window displays using the painting as an example. The painting was also reproduced as on the cover of an internal magazine.
The Brandywine River Museum of Art library holds a mounted reproduction of the cropped image, used as a display panel (#44229).
Archival material at Bristol-Meyers Squibb shows that this image was used as standup window display poster. The cardboard standup would be centered in the middle of a window display with Squibb products all around. In another example, the image appears in an instructional flyer showing how to setup window displays using the painting as an example. The painting was also reproduced as on the cover of an internal magazine.
The Brandywine River Museum of Art library holds a mounted reproduction of the cropped image, used as a display panel (#44229).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:1.) digital image directly from painting; 2.) painting in earlier state; 3.) Renaissance Panel label on reverse of painting
Photo Credit:1) photography courtesy of Bristol-Myers Squibb; 2.) archival photograph, collection of the Brandywine River Museum, no photographer credited; 3.) photography courtesy of Bristol-Meyers Squibb