ANDREW WYETH - AUTOGRAPH LETTER SIGNED 03/16/1947 - HFSID 285915

ANDREW WYETH
Extremely rare letter written by Andrew Wyeth at his winter home in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania in 1947 about a painting of the Battle of the Nile. Letters from Wyeth that discuss works in progress and include diagrams drawn by him are rarely encountered in the public market and are highly desirable.
Autograph letter signed "Andrew". 2 pages, 7¼x10¼, single-sided sheets. March 16, 1947, Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. In full: "Dear Mr. Fisher: Thank you for your letter of the 14th also the prints and material reguarding (sic) the French ship Guerrier. I don't think we need worry ourselves about the figure-head on the ship as the smoke from the foremast quite does away with it. I have followed the prints of the Guerrier very closely when you return this working drawing you might tell me what color the Guerrier was painted. I was most happy to receive the Mavel (sic) Academy Museum pamphlets for my files, more Thanks. The position of Nelson's ship Vanguard in my drawing to the French ship Guerrier. I really think I can make a better water color with this change. Will you mail the drawing back to me as soon as possible so that I can get on with the finished work. With best regards Sincerely" Thisletter appears to describe a painting of the Battle of the Nile, which included the French Guerrier and British Rear Admiral Sir Horatio Nelson's HMS Vanguard, both 74-gun ships of the line. The British routed the French in this battle and denied Egypt to Napoleon Bonaparte, and Guerrier was captured and burned. Wyeth has drawn a diagram showing the positions of the English and French fleets, including the ships he mentions in this letter, at the top third of the second page of the letter. Two months after he wrote this letter, Andrew Wyeth, the American artist noted primarily for his watercolors and drawings of lonely rural life in an almost photographic style, exhibited nine works in the "Annual Award Exhibition" of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and National Institute of Arts and Letters and received their Award of Merit. Letters written by Wyeth that incorporate drawings and discuss a work in progress are most desirable and rarely encountered. Wyeth (1917-2009, born in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania) found the subject matter for his paintings in the two regions in which he lives: Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania (winter) and Cushing, Maine (summer). Wyeth's work provides almost photographic depictions of lonely rural life. His best-known painting, Christina's World, depicts a neighbor, polio-stricken Christina Olson, picking berries in the grass while looking at her large home on a hill. Lightly toned, soiled and creased. 3 file holes and staple holes at top edge, which touch date but not signature. Lightly dented at top edge. Otherwise in fine condition.