N. C. Wyeth, c. 1920.
N.C. Wyeth was a U.S. painter and illustrator known for the art he provided for books like Treasure Island, The Last of the Mohicans and The Yearling.
Quotes
“If you paint a man leaning over, your own back must ache.” – N.C. Wyeth
Synopsis
Newell Convers Wyeth was born on October 22, 1882, in Needham, Massachusetts, N.C. He studied with Howard Pyle to learn more about painting and illustrating. He became famous for drawing pictures for Scribner’s Illustrated Classics book series, with books like The Boy’s King Arthur and Drums. He lived for a long time in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. Sadly, he died in a train crash on October 19, 1945.
Background and Early Career
His love of art was inspired by his mother. He learned from neighborhood artist Cora Livingston and went to a few art schools before studying at the Howard Pyle School of Art in Delaware.
In his early 20’s, Wyeth had begun to create drawings for magazines. In 1904 he explored the western U.S., living in Native American communities, connecting with nature to find inspiration for his art. He married Carolyn Brenneman Bockius in 1906. The couple went on to have five children and lived in the village of Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.
One More Step, Mr. Hands by N.C. Wyeth, 1911, for Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson.
‘TREASURE ISLAND’
N.C. Wyeth was hired to provide illustrations for Robert Louis Stevenson’s book Treasure Island. He drew illustrations for many other Scribner’s Illustrated Classics, including titles like The Boy’s King Arthur, The Last of the Mohicans, Drums and The Yearling. Wyeth’s moody style and textured paintings gave readers a personal vantage point of the story. He gave the genre of children’s storytelling a distinct realism.
Wyeth illustrated many other books like Longfellow’s The Courtship of Miles Standish and Vandemark’s Folly by Herbert Quick. He is also well-known for his mural and canvas works.