Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
H. M. S. Bounty
Medium: Oil on hardboard (Renaissance Panel)
Date: 1940
Dimensions:
29 1/2 × 20 in. (74.9 × 50.8 cm)
The Free Library of Philadelphia, Rare Book Department
Accession number: SUPP2000.1302
Research Number: NCW: 1302
InscribedLower left: N. C. WYETH (underlined); on reverse, Renaissance Panel label, no. 832, dated 10/27/(19)39; painted directly onto the panel: The Ship "Bounty" ; written on paper adhered to panel in NCW's hand: This picture is copyrighted by Little, Brown and Co. (name underlined twice), / Publishers. However, newspaper reproduction / rights allowed under the sponsorship of the Artists War Relief Committee - provided (underlined twice) a / courtesy line be printed under the picture in / favor of the above named publishers / N. C. Wyeth; adhered to reverse of panel, Thornton Oakley Collection bookplate
ProvenanceThe artist; (Artists' War Relief Committee of Philadelphia, "Sale of Works of Art for the benefit of...The American Red Cross," Dec. 8-9, 1941, no. 71); Collection of Thornton Oakley, 1941 - 1951
References
N. C. Wyeth, Income tax notes for 1940, unpublished, Brandywine River Museum Library; Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), p. 213; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.1292, p. 582
Curatorial RemarksThorton Oakley (1881-1953) studied with Howard Pyle from about 1902-1905. During World War II he was chairman of the Artists' War Relief Committee of Philadelphia; as such, in Dec. 1941, he organized an art auction to benefit the American Red Cross. This painting was Wyeth's contribution to the auction, and was purchased by Oakley himself (see Thornton Oakley Collection, Gift of Lansdale Oakley Humphreys, Brandywine River Museum).
The Andrew and Betsy Wyeth collection includes the charcoal composition drawing for this image (NCW 1433). The Brandywine River Museum holds the copy of Pitcairn's Island (NCWS.95.604) that Wyeth read in preparation for the commission,into which was inserted a typed copy of his initial illustrative program for the Bounty trilogy; and a lantern slide of the composition drawing (NCWS.95.1825.119).
The Andrew and Betsy Wyeth collection includes the charcoal composition drawing for this image (NCW 1433). The Brandywine River Museum holds the copy of Pitcairn's Island (NCWS.95.604) that Wyeth read in preparation for the commission,into which was inserted a typed copy of his initial illustrative program for the Bounty trilogy; and a lantern slide of the composition drawing (NCWS.95.1825.119).
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:1. Digital photography directly from painting; 2. label written by artist on reverse of panel
Photo Credit:Will Brown, Photographer, both images