American, 1917–2009
The Sweep
tempera on masonite, 1967
24 1/8 x 35 1/8 inches
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William L. Richards through the Viola E. Bray Charitable Trust, 1967.29
tempera on masonite, 1967
24 1/8 x 35 1/8 inches
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. William L. Richards through the Viola E. Bray Charitable Trust, 1967.29
ARTIST INFO
Andrew Wyeth, son of the well-known illustrator N. C. Wyeth, was born in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
Attracted to art from an early age, he was essentially self-taught, learning by observation rather than by
formal instruction. He achieved acclaim early in his career; his first solo exhibition of watercolors, in New
York in 1937, completely sold out. His intimate knowledge of these two environments is manifested in his
art and his body of work is largely devoted to subjects from these two areas.
The Sweep pictures a view with which the artist is well acquainted—a sweeping vista from the edge of the Wyeths' Maine property overlooking the road leading to the farm of their neighbor, the James family. This painting is executed with technical virtuosity, especially evident in the bristling needles of the evergreen trees, the texture of the cold porous surface of each stone of the rock wall, and the light falling on the weathered oar leaning on the wall. The image is typical of Wyeth in its depiction of a silent, still world that is cool and remote in its austerity.
The Sweep pictures a view with which the artist is well acquainted—a sweeping vista from the edge of the Wyeths' Maine property overlooking the road leading to the farm of their neighbor, the James family. This painting is executed with technical virtuosity, especially evident in the bristling needles of the evergreen trees, the texture of the cold porous surface of each stone of the rock wall, and the light falling on the weathered oar leaning on the wall. The image is typical of Wyeth in its depiction of a silent, still world that is cool and remote in its austerity.
