"The Christmas Ship in Old New York" Lot no. 2022
By N.C. Wyeth 1882-1945
1928 (Estimated)
53.00" x 136.00", Framed 66.00" x 149.00"
Oil on Canvas
Signed Lower Left
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Interwoven Stocking Company Advertisement
Reproduced on gift boxes, Advertisement appeared in Saturday Evening Post, December 8, 1928, pg.2
The long lost NC Wyeth painting The Christmas Ship in Old New York.Produced in 1929, ‘whereabouts unknown’ for over 60 years, this 4 foot 5 inch by 11 foot 4 inch oil visits the location of its inspiration to be appreciated once again.
Exhibitions: Brandywine River Museum, Its a Man's World: Illustration House NYC November 14- 17, 2012, Palm Beach Jewlery, Art & Antique Show February 15-19, 2013
During transportation of N.C. Wyeth’s “The Christmas Ship In Old New York” from Philadelphia, PA to Palm Beach, FL the painting was adversely affected by the rapid change in temperature and relative humidity. The Painting’s varnish and paint layer were compromised and a whitish bloom developed on the top surface, a condition known as blooming. Treatment involved removing the varnish layer of the entire painting consequently some areas previously restored loss paint and required inpainting to complete the restoration treatment. Afterwards, a new final varnish coating was applied. The painting once again portrays the grand narrative of the Christmas Ship in Old New York like only N. C. Wyeth could.
Explore related art collections: Advertisements / Historical / Christmas/ Holiday / Winter / Landscape / Boating/Nautical / 1920s / Urban/Cities / Brandywine School
See all original artwork by N.C. Wyeth
ABOUT THE ARTIST
Newell Convers Wyeth had a huge zest for life. He carried his enthusiasm through a great number of paintings, more than 3000 illustrations, numerous vast murals, and many still-life and landscape paintings.
Howard Pyle was his teacher and idol. At first, Wyeth emulated Pyle's approach as nearly as possible, painting much of the same kind of subject matter - medieval life, pirates, Americana. To this he added his own dramatic picture concepts and rich, decorative color. Outstanding in this phase of his work were the more than twenty-five books he illustrated for Charles Scribner's Son's Classics series. The popularity of these books is such that, even after decades, many of them are still in print.
He came to resent the constraints of illustration, and after painting in oils for many years, Wyeth turned to the egg tempera medium and began to paint more for exhibitions. He also encouraged an interest in the arts in his children, giving them every opportunity for self-expression. His daughters, Henriette and Caroline, were both accomplished painters; Ann, a composer; and his son, Andrew, is famous as a painter. His grandson, Jamie, is also an excellent painter.
At the time of his tragic death in a railway crossing accident, N.C Wyeth was one of America's best loved illustrators.
The October, 1965, issue of American Heritage contains an article by Henry C. Pitz about the career of Wyeth and his family, and a biography by David Michaelis was published in 1998.