The exhibition "Andrew Wyeth at 100: A Family Remembrance" at the Fenimore Art Museum in New York blows away the misconception that Andrew Wyeth was a melancholy, dour loner.
| "Fuzzy Wooly Andy," ca. 2000 Photo by Victoria Browning Wyeth |
The impression that comes across from his granddaughter Victoria's viewpoint is of the "Andy" she knew, who giggled, tickled, hugged, and laughed.
| MASTER BEDROOM, 1965 watercolor. Collection of Victoria Browning Wyeth © 2017 Andrew Wyeth / Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY |
Victoria curated the show, writing the captions, and included many works from her own collection.
It's a small show, but there are watercolors, egg temperas, early self portraits, quick portraits of family members, photographs (many by Vic herself), illustrated letters, items of clothing, and even paintbrushes (He used, among others, Laurut brand kolinsky round mops with quill ferrules).
| Outpost, 1968 tempera. Andrew and Betsy Wyeth Collection © 2017 Andrew Wyeth / Artists Rights Society (ARS), NY |
The show is full of insights into Wyeth's thinking and working methods. According to Victoria, Andy NEVER used photographs for his paintings. Here's a grab bag of quotes:
"It is not a portrait unless the person is looking at you." (A. Wyeth)
"He always talked about the sounds in his paintings."
"He was wonderful because he would talk with you — converse with you when you posed. He would always talk about something he knew you were interested in— any kind of subject."
"He always mixed his own black. 'You need to build the excitement of the black, with blues, greens reds, etc.'"
"Art has no rules." (A. Wyeth)
| The Revenant, 1949 tempera. New Britain Museum, Harriet Russell Stanley Fund, © 2017 Andrew Wyeth Art Rights Society (ARS), NY |
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Andrew Wyeth at 100: A Family Remembrance is on view at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, New York through September 4.
Book: Andrew Wyeth | Victoria Wyeth: My Andy (Andrew Wyeth)
The larger Andrew Wyeth exhibition is at the Brandywine Museum in Pennsylvania: Andrew Wyeth in Retrospect, through September 17, with a book: Andrew Wyeth: In Retrospect
