Andrew Wyeth

Andrew Wyeth died today. He was 91 and painted pretty much until the end. Deb, Dana and I went to the Brandywine River Museum not all that long ago. Many of the artworks of three generations of Wyeths are on display there, as well as works of art by other talented artists. It's an intimate gallery with lovely gardens and grounds. I highly recommend visiting, especially in nice weather in order to spend time outside.

One of Andrew Wyeth's most famous works was Christina's World:

Wyeth loved the hills and the farmland around Chadds Ford and the Brandywine River Valley of Pennsylvania. This is famous and lovely, but I have a print (as do many other dog lovers) that I love of a yellow lab-ish dog sleeping on a bed. This one:
The Wyeths loved their dogs. Jamie Wyeth, in particular, inserted dogs into his artwork regularly. And it was clear that this family really and truly loved their dogs. The affection imbued in the representation of these animals is fantastic. In fact, N.C. Wyeth, Andrew's father and a reknowned illustrator and artist, once gave Andrew a critique of one if his early works by suggesting that there would be more interest in the painting if he stuck a dog in it!

Here is a link to the Brandywine River Museum. Find the time to make a visit. It is a beautiful setting, with intimate galleries and some great American landscapes, still lifes and illustrations.

http://www.brandywinemuseum.org/index.html