Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
The Scottish Chiefs, endpaper illustration
Alternate Title(s):Stirling Castle
Medium: Oil on canvas on hardboard
Date: 1921
Dimensions:
25 1/8 × 42 1/4 in. (63.8 × 107.3 cm)
Private collection
Accession number: SUPP2000.491
Research Number: NCW: 491
InscribedLower left: N. C. WYETH (underlined); also in lower left, a trace of the original circled W is still evident.
ProvenanceThe artist (returned to him from Scribner's, 1/22/1923); (?); Private collection, Islesboro, ME and descended in family; (?); (Somerville Manning Gallery, Greenville, DE); Private collection, Wilmington, DE; (Christie's, New York, NY, Dec. 5, 2002, lot no. 213); Sam Wyly, Dallas TX; [Dallas, TX, Dallas Auction Gallery, Oct. 5, 2016, lot no.48)
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 215; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.857, p. 422
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).
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).
It was not uncommon for the artist to rework published paintings to make them appear more "painterly." In this case, the canvas was cut down, and the title scroll and the artist's initial along the left edge were painted out. The lower corners were "landscaped" and Wyeth finished with his full signature.
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).
It was not uncommon for the artist to rework published paintings to make them appear more "painterly." In this case, the canvas was cut down, and the title scroll and the artist's initial along the left edge were painted out. The lower corners were "landscaped" and Wyeth finished with his full signature.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:1. transparency directly from painting; 2. digital scan from printed image
Photo Credit:Rick Echelmeyer, 10/1999; 2. BRM staff