N C Wyeth (1882-1945) was one of America’s finest illustrators, best known for his outstanding book illustrations of Treasure Island, The Boy’s King Arthur and Robinson Crusoe. His illustrations in oils are magnificent, lush, technically brilliant examples of imaginative story-telling, and he painted some lovely landscapes as well. He taught not only his students but also three of his children and two sons-in-law to paint in his studio in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009), the youngest son of N C Wyeth, is the best known artist in the family. Andrew was particularly close to his father and began studying with him at an early age. At his death in January 2009, he was regarded as America’s finest realist painter – he was certainly the most famous, hugely popular with the public but dividing the critics. Working primarily in water colour and tempera, his paintings hint at sometimes mysterious, deeply-felt narratives. He spent his summers in Maine, painting a world he had known since childhood. In order to avoid distraction from his work from enthusiastic fans or the media, Andy kept his life as private as he could.
James Browning Wyeth (1946-) is Andrew Wyeth’s son. He showed remarkable talent and gained great recognition very early in life. He had his first exhibition at the age of twenty, and has carried on the family tradition with his own brilliant career. His work has its own colourful personality, but there are clear links with that of his father and grandfather.
Henriette Wyeth (1907-1997) was Nc Wyeth’s first child and is considered by many to be one of the great women painters of the 20th century. After the age of 30o she moved to New Mixico with her husband Peter Hurd. Her distinguished career as a portraitist includes such well known subjects as First Lady Pat Nixon, actress Helen Hayes and author Paul Horgan.
Peter Hurd (1904-1984) became a student of N C Wyeth. For the next ten years, he lived and painted under the strict guidance of his teacher. All of the Wyeths were quite taken by this handsome, energetic young man in cowboy boots and hat, but none so much as Henriette, who married Peter Hurd in 1929. Peter Hurd is best known for his watercolours, luminous egg tempera and lithographs depicting the New Mexico landscape.
Friends of Horniman Art Exhibition
The 19th annual art exhibition will be held over two days in July. Admission is free to view the paintings in the Conservatory at the Horniman. New and established artists will be showing their most recent work and all works are for sale. Thirty per cent of the sale proceeds are donated to the Horniman Museum and its gardens.
Exhibition open Saturday 10th July 10am-5pm, Sunday 11th July 10am-4.30pm
The Winter’s Tale
The Dulwich Players are to perform William Shakespeare’s The Winter’s Tale in the Dulwich Picture Gallery Garden On Wednesday 30 June, Thursday – Saturday 1-3 July at 8pm with a matinee on Saturday at 5pm.
Passions run high in The Winter’s Tale, which depicts the destructive nature of jealousy and its consequences. With a strong narrative, courageous women, crazy sherherds and one of the most notorious stage directions around (EXIT – pursued by a Bear), the scene us set for a perfect evening’s entertainment. The gardens of the Gallery provide the ideal setting for this thrilling tale.
Box Office: 020 8670 4955 or tickets also from The Art Stationers, Dulwich Village and the Gallery Friends Desk. Seated £12, £6 on the grass.