Generally regarded as "America's Painter," realist Andrew Wyeth is perhaps the most well know of the artistic Wyeth family dynasty which includes his father N. C. Wyeth, sister Henriette Hurd, and son Jamie Wyeth. Although most recent explorations of this artist have focused on his family and on the Helga pictures, this unique publication chronicles seven decades of an under-appreciated yet historically relevant aspect of his relationship to home and community. "Andrew Wyeth: Close Friends" is the first critical look at a significant body of paintings and works on paper depicting Wyeth's African-American friends and neighbours in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, a quaint village on the Brandywine River where he has lived since birth. Beginning in the 1930s, many of Wyeth's African-American neighbours served as his models both in and out of the studio. Images of over 20 individuals are included, as well as depictions of their homes, farms, and meeting places. Wyeth's own words annotate the reproductions of his paintings and drawings and offer a rare glimpse into the mind of this truly individual artist. In her brief introduction, the artist's wife and collaborator, Betsy James Wyeth, recounts her arrival in Chadds Ford as a young bride and her immediate connection to the community she found there. "Andrew Wyeth: Close Friends" includes over 100 colour reproductions of major tempera and watercolour paintings and numerous black and white images of graphite drawings. Works reproduced are drawn from public and private collections, with a large number from the personal collection of the Wyeths. In addition to a foreword by museum director R. Andrew Maass, the book includes family photographs and facsimiles of personal correspondence. Betsy James Wyeth came to Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania in 1940 as the new bride of painter Andrew Wyeth. She has collaborated with her husband on several exhibitions and publications. The Wyeth's divide their time between Chadds Ford and Midcoast, Maine.
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Book Description
Editorial Reviews
From Publishers Weekly
Octogenarian artist Andrew Wyeth, of Christina's World and beyond, has maintained close friendships within the African-American community of Chadds Ford, Pa., where he was born and has lived since. Andrew Wythe: Close Friends presents more than 125 full-color, full-page reproductions of Wyeth's oil and watercolor portraits of his neighbors and friends, currently touring several small American museums. Wyeth's wife and collaborator, Betsy James Wyeth, provides an introduction, some family photos and commentary on the people and settings found in the work.
Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.
From Booklist
Much ink has been expended explaining the symbolism of Wyeth's famous paintings of figures in barren farm fields or inside barely furnished rooms. The artist's wife, Betsy James Wyeth, says in her one-page, six-paragraph introduction that the pictures in this book portray their African American friends, and R. Andrew Maass, who masterminded the exhibition that it complements, in effect says they are to be regarded as portrayals, pure and simple. These drawings, watercolors, and temperas are presented chronologically, accompanied by only the briefest descriptions or recollections, the latter usually the artist's remarks. That Wyeth's depictions are beautiful goes without saying. The duration and depth of his affection for his black neighbors is valuable and heartening, and this book will amply communicate that feeling to the painter's vast audience. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Great Andrew Wyeth Book,
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This review is from: Andrew Wyeth: Close Friends (Hardcover)
If you have nearly every Andrew Wyeth book and decided to skip this one, think again! I checked this out by looking at one at the public library and counted over 50 paintings and drawings not found in his other books. It is an absolute must buy for Wyeth fans. The thing that struck me most as an artist and photographer was the many way he found of posing his subjects. It is a textbook on portrait painting, and the reproductions are very good, as good as you are going to get with Wyeth. I find that I go back to this one time and again.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very pleased customer,
This review is from: Andrew Wyeth: Close Friends (Hardcover)
I have been unable to get my hands on this book. I needed to do research on a particular Andrew Wyeth print - the artist, the subject and the person selling this print. I was able to get all the information from the library and wanted a copy of this book to help explain a "note" from the artist on this print. The book arrived in a timely manner and was in good condition. I will now look to Amazon for future hard to find books.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Very good condition,
This review is from: Andrew Wyeth: Close Friends (Hardcover)
I found the book in a very good condition. I'm very happy with the purchase. I'd repeat with this dealer.
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