Artist:
N.C. Wyeth
(American, 1882 - 1945)
McClure's Magazine, cover illustration
Alternate Title(s):The Peace Sign
Medium: Oil on canvas
Date: 1906
Dimensions:
40 1/4 × 30 1/4 in. (102.2 × 76.8 cm)
American Illustrators Gallery, New York, NY
Accession number: SUPP2000.821
Research Number: NCW: 821
InscribedLower right: N. C. WYETH / 1906
ProvenanceThe artist; Nathaniel Wyeth (the artist's brother), to 1954; (?); private collection, by 1972; (Chappell & McCullar, San Francisco, CA, 2004); American Illustrators Gallery, New York, NY, to 2007; Private collection, Palm Beach, FL to 2008;
References
Douglas Allen and Douglas Allen, Jr., N. C. Wyeth, The Collected Paintings, Illustrations and Murals (New York: Crown Publishers, 1972), ps. 266 and 325; Christine B. Podmaniczky, N. C. Wyeth, A Catalogue Raisonné of Paintings (London: Scala, 2008), I.138, p. 146
Curatorial RemarksIn the summer of 1906 Howard Pyle became the art editor of McClure's Magazine. He placed a great deal of pressure on his students, particularly N. C. Wyeth, to produce material for McClure's. Wyeth was torn between his desire to "reach a much higher plane" in his work and his wish to satisfy Plye with "a Big Cover design." With this picture he was positive he accomplished both goals. The picture stood alone as a cover illustration, and did not pertain to an article or story in the November issue.
Above the figure's head, pentimenti reveal that the title "McClure's" was originally painted on the canvas. Gretchen Wyeth Underwood recalls that her family lived with the title "for years," until Mrs. Nathaniel (Gladys Pond) Wyeth asked the artist to paint over the word.
Above the figure's head, pentimenti reveal that the title "McClure's" was originally painted on the canvas. Gretchen Wyeth Underwood recalls that her family lived with the title "for years," until Mrs. Nathaniel (Gladys Pond) Wyeth asked the artist to paint over the word.
Image Source for printed Catalogue Raisonne:Digital scan directly from painting
Photo Credit:Courtesy of the National Museum of American Illustration