Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
The Scottish Chiefs, cover illustration
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1921
Dimensions:
44 7/8 × 32 in. (114 × 81.3 cm)
Courtesy of the University Museums, University of Delaware
Accession number: SUPP2000.179
Research Number: NCW: 179
InscribedLower left: W (encircled); written on reverse of canvas: --6 1/8 -- / 5600 (final digit(s) obscurred by label) / 5. ; adhered to reverse of canvas, Scribner copyright label with following ink inscription: Wyeth = N. C. / Cover Design / Scottish Chiefs. (underlined) / October 1921 / THIS COPYRIGHTED PICTURE etc.; adhered to canvas, Scribner's mailing label with following in ink: 5 (circled) Mr (illegible) / Old Corner Book Store / 27 Bromfield St. / Boston Mass. / (printed section) from / CHARLES SCRIBNER'S SONS, etc.
ProvenanceThe artist (returned to him from Scribner's, 1/22/1923); (?); Collection of Judge Hugh Martin Morris; gift to the University of Delaware, 1958
Exhibition HistoryHarrisburg, PA, 1965, no. 60; Rockland, ME, 1966, no. 55; Chadds Ford, PA, 1972, no. 102; Chadds Ford, PA, 1985; Chadds Ford, PA, 2005
References
Betsy James Wyeth, ed., The Wyeths, The Letters of N. C. Wyeth, 1902-1945 (Boston: Gambit, 1971), ps. 669, 675; Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 215; A Catalogue of the Permanent Collection of the University of Delaware (Newark, DE: University of Delaware, 1985), p. 96; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.856, p. 421
Curatorial RemarksIn preparation for this commission, Wyeth read an undated edition of The Scottish Chiefs published by Thomas D. Crowell Company, New York, illustrated with photographs of Scottish scenery (Brandywine River Museum NCWS.95.184).He also had in his studio library the 8 volume "Scottish Highlands, Highland Clans and Highland Regiments" pulished by Fullerton & Co. of Edinburgh (BRMA, NCWS.95.232.1-.8).
In a letter to his father of late January, 1921, Wyeth wrote: "I started this morning on my cover design for Scottish Chiefs. I have spent almost two months now (i.e. evenings and fragments of the daytime) absorbing data of all descriptions, embracing most of the authentic history of the early middle ages in Scotland (11th to the 13th centuries) and renewing and augmenting my knowledge and dreams of the "Hieland." ...It really seems a pity that one isn't given the time and sufficient money to do a book like this romantic tale of Scotland thoroughly, and with knowledge substantiated by facts as far as is possible--and above all else after a personal investigation of the country. However, I feel encouraged when I hear, as I did recently, that Kidnapped, Robin Hood and King Arthur are most popular books in Edinburgh! Several Scotsmen have complimented my highland interpretations in Kidnapped, especially the Isle of Erraid. And yet the interpretation was purely imaginative, built upon accumulated and composite knowldge gained from photos, drawings and descriptions."
The space occupied by the large banner was originally a formal title block for the book cover label. Correspondence between the artist and Scribner's art editor Joseph Chapin makes clear that Wyeth was dismayed by the amount of text required in the design; he had envisioned only the words "The Scottish Chiefs" on the front of the book (NCW to Joseph H. Chapin, dated Feb. 1921, Archives of Charles Scribner's Sons, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library). Scribner's added the lettering to the design and subsequently Wyeth altered the painting to its present appearance. It was not unusual for the artist to eliminate a title block by either cutting down the canvas or by repainting the area.
Wyeth was extremely concerned about the quality of the reproductions for this commission--he had generously used blue and green pigments throughout, difficult for printers to duplicate. For this commission, the plates were engraved by the Suffolk Engraving and Electrotyping Company (see Scribner's cards, Brandywine River Museum of Art) and printed by Bowker (NCW to Joseph Hawley Chapin, dated "Tuesday morning, 6:15" probably June, 1921, Archives of Charles Scribner's, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library).
In a letter to his father of late January, 1921, Wyeth wrote: "I started this morning on my cover design for Scottish Chiefs. I have spent almost two months now (i.e. evenings and fragments of the daytime) absorbing data of all descriptions, embracing most of the authentic history of the early middle ages in Scotland (11th to the 13th centuries) and renewing and augmenting my knowledge and dreams of the "Hieland." ...It really seems a pity that one isn't given the time and sufficient money to do a book like this romantic tale of Scotland thoroughly, and with knowledge substantiated by facts as far as is possible--and above all else after a personal investigation of the country. However, I feel encouraged when I hear, as I did recently, that Kidnapped, Robin Hood and King Arthur are most popular books in Edinburgh! Several Scotsmen have complimented my highland interpretations in Kidnapped, especially the Isle of Erraid. And yet the interpretation was purely imaginative, built upon accumulated and composite knowldge gained from photos, drawings and descriptions."
The space occupied by the large banner was originally a formal title block for the book cover label. Correspondence between the artist and Scribner's art editor Joseph Chapin makes clear that Wyeth was dismayed by the amount of text required in the design; he had envisioned only the words "The Scottish Chiefs" on the front of the book (NCW to Joseph H. Chapin, dated Feb. 1921, Archives of Charles Scribner's Sons, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library). Scribner's added the lettering to the design and subsequently Wyeth altered the painting to its present appearance. It was not unusual for the artist to eliminate a title block by either cutting down the canvas or by repainting the area.
Wyeth was extremely concerned about the quality of the reproductions for this commission--he had generously used blue and green pigments throughout, difficult for printers to duplicate. For this commission, the plates were engraved by the Suffolk Engraving and Electrotyping Company (see Scribner's cards, Brandywine River Museum of Art) and printed by Bowker (NCW to Joseph Hawley Chapin, dated "Tuesday morning, 6:15" probably June, 1921, Archives of Charles Scribner's, Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:1.) Transparency directly from painting; 2.) Color proof showing original appearance of painting with title block, Brandywine River Museum library, #4981.1
Photo Credit:1.) Peter Ralston, www.pralston.com; 2. Brandywine River Museum staff