Andrew Wyeth Biography

(American Visual Artist)

Birthday: July 12, 1917 (Cancer)

Born In: Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania,, United States

Andrew Newell Wyeth was an American visual artist and realist painter. He will be remembered for his creations of paintings like ‘Christina’s World’ and ‘Winter 1946’. Trained by his artist father N.C. Wyeth, he achieved an important place in the field of art in the United States. As an artist, his first solo exhibition in New York attracted public attention when all of his paintings were sold there. After losing his father in an accident, he expressed his grief for his father by shifting his paintings from realism to abstract expressionism. He expressed his sincere grief for the death of his father by portraying barren lands and single figure. Some of his well known paintings include ‘Roasted Chestnuts’ and his self portrait titled ‘Trodden Weed’. All of his painting works represent a perfect amalgamation of beauty, emotion and symbolism. His usage of light and shadow is truly thought provoking. Moreover, all of his paintings prove his expertise in using the technique of egg tempera. Through the creation of paintings like ‘Ravens Grove’, ‘Night Sleeper’ and ‘Pentecost’, he attempted to interpret various moods of light. As the recipient of several prestigious awards, he was the first living American artist whom Britain’s Royal Academy elected as its member.

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Quick Facts

Died At Age: 91

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Betsy James

father: N.C. (Newell Convers) Wyeth

mother: Carolyn Bockius Wyeth

siblings: Ann Wyeth McCoy, Carolyn Wyeth, Henriette Wyeth Hurd, Nathaniel Wyeth

children: James, Nicholas

Born Country: United States

Artists Realist Painters

Died on: January 16, 2009

place of death: Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania,, United States

U.S. State: Pennsylvania

More Facts

awards: 2007 - National Medal of Arts
1988 - Congressional Gold Medal

  • 1

    What is Andrew Wyeth known for?

    Andrew Wyeth is known for his realistic and detailed paintings, particularly his iconic rural American landscapes and portraits.
  • 2

    Where can I see Andrew Wyeth's artwork?

    Andrew Wyeth's artwork can be found in various museums and galleries around the world, including the Brandywine River Museum of Art in Pennsylvania and the National Gallery of Art in Washington D.C.
  • 3

    How did Andrew Wyeth create his paintings?

    Andrew Wyeth primarily worked in watercolor and egg tempera, using a meticulous and detailed technique to create his highly realistic and emotionally evocative paintings.
  • 4

    What inspired Andrew Wyeth's artwork?

    Andrew Wyeth drew inspiration from the rural landscapes of Pennsylvania and Maine, as well as the people and places around him. His works often reflect a deep connection to nature and a sense of nostalgia.
  • 5

    Are there any famous paintings by Andrew Wyeth?

    Yes, some of Andrew Wyeth's most famous paintings include "Christina's World," "Winter 1946," "Wind from the Sea," and "Helga Testorf." These works are celebrated for their emotional depth and technical skill.
Childhood & Early Life
Born to artist N.C. Wyeth and Carolyn Bockius Wyeth in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, United States, Andrew Wyeth was the youngest of the five children of his parents.
Due to his sinus problems, he could not attend public school. Instead, he received his education from private tutors at home. It was this time, when he became interested towards art.
When he was very young, he showed his design of a toy miniature theater to his father. Realising his potential for becoming an artist, his father started instructing him in art.
N.C. Wyeth taught him necessary techniques of painting and the use of light and shadows in paintings along with the paintings relation to life and mood. He allowed his son to create his own individual identity as an artist.
Under his father’s guidance, he started painting in watercolours. During this time, he studied art history and was influenced by the painters of Renaissance period. The paintings of Wilslow Homer impressed him much.
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Career
He showed some of his paintings to Robert Macbeth, an art dealer of New York City. Impressed by these works, Macbeth organized a solo exhibition at the Macbeth Gallery in New York City in October 1937.
This show featured his representation of watercolour landscape and seascape of Maine where he spent time for several months. The show was successful and all his paintings were sold out within two days and its success secured his position in the art industry.
It was painter Peter Hurd, his brother-in-law, who introduced him to unique technique of paintings like egg tempera. At that time, Andrew’s paintings used to reflect his attention towards detail rather giving importance to colour combination.
The introduction of this new technique helped him to incorporate textural effects in his paintings. In 1945, he created paintings like ‘East Waldoboro’. In the same year, he lost his father a street accident.
This incident left a deep impact on his mind. He expressed this great loss through his artistic creations like ‘Winter 1946’.His painting of barren landscape and single figure reflected his mourning for his father.
He then started creating portraits of people with whom he had close relations. He painted Anna and Karl Kuerner who were his neighbours in Chadds Ford. Their farm was also one of his favorite subjects of painting for about 30 years.
In 1948, his creation of ‘Christina’s World’ brought him wide acknowledgement as an artist for his effective use of symbolism.
In 1963, based on his life and work. “Time” magazine published a cover story.
He created the painting of ‘Distant Thunder’ in 1961. In 1967, he remained busy in creating the painting of ‘Spring Fed’. During the 1960s and 1970s, he created a number of portraits of Siri Erickson. In this context the painting of ‘Indian Summer’, which he created in 1970, deserves special mention.
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From 1971, he started creating portraits of Helga Testorf, a female model of his painting. Through his creation of the painting titled ‘Barracoon’ in 1976, he endeavoured to present the theme of timelessness.
He exhibited all the paintings of Helga Testorf at the National Gallery of Art in 1987. In the same year, Bates College offered him a D.F.A. In 1993, his creation of ‘Whale Rib’ shows his emotional representation of Maine .
Major Works
He created the painting titled ‘Winter 1946’ after his father’s death in 1945. This painting features a single figure of a boy running down a hill. He identifies himself with the lonely boy and tried to express his sense of loss and inevitability of death through this image.
In 1948, he created the painting ‘Christina’s World’ that shows a woman in a treeless background. The image of Christiana denotes her inner strength though she is physically weak..
Personal Life & Legacy
He married Betsy Merle James on May 15, 1940. They had two children, Nicholas and Jamie. His wife Betsy had a great influence in his life. It was she who introduced him with Christina Olson, a polio victim who served as a model for his paintings.
On account of poor health condition, he died in his sleep at the age of 91 at his home in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania
Facts About Andrew Wyeth
Andrew Wyeth was known to be a private and reclusive artist, often preferring to work in solitude in his studio.
Wyeth had a deep connection to the landscapes of Pennsylvania and Maine, where he found inspiration for many of his iconic works.
He often used egg tempera, a challenging and ancient painting technique, in his artworks, showcasing his dedication to traditional methods.
Wyeth's famous painting "Christina's World" was inspired by a real-life woman with a degenerative muscular disorder, showcasing his ability to capture emotion and depth in his subjects.
Despite his quiet demeanor, Wyeth's paintings have left a lasting impact on the art world, with his works being celebrated for their emotional depth and realism.

See the events in life of Andrew Wyeth in Chronological Order

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