Description:

A. Wyeth Original Watercolor of Dog with 2 ALSs: "Been working hard"

Two autograph letters signed by American realist artist Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009), both signed as "Andy." The autograph letter signed with an attributed date contains an exquisite original watercolor drawing of a dog named Gilda; her head portrait features dark blue, gray, and brown pigment and measures approximately 1.625" x 1.375." Further information about each letter can be found below. Provenance: From the personal collection of George & Helen Sipala, Wyeth's longtime friends and neighbors in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. Accompanied by a letter of authenticity dated November 2, 2020 originally signed by Helen Sipala.

The lot consists of:

1. A 1p autograph letter signed by Wyeth as "Andy" near center right. "7/1/90" is inscribed in a different hand in the upper right corner. [Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.] Wyeth penned a cheerful 39-word letter and depicted his current canine muse, Gilda, at center left. Blue ink and watercolors on typing paper. Slight corner wrinkles, else near pristine. 8.5" x 11."

Wyeth wrote to his Chadds Fords neighbors George & Helen Sipala, in full, with unchanged spelling and punctuation:

"Sunday -
9. oclock

Dear George + Helen -

I hope you enjoyed your visit South as well as I did visiting Gilda here -

I also loved the cake

Welcome Home!

love
Andy -

Gilda my main model!!"

Andrew Wyeth depicted a number of dogs in his artwork, including dogs sleeping, lounging, or sitting. One of Wyeth's most recognizable dog paintings is his 1965 watercolor, "Master Bedroom," which shows the family dog Rattler napping like a person with his head on a pillow!

2. A 1p autograph letter signed by Wyeth as "Andy" at bottom right. N.d. but probably ca. July 1990 since the two pieces were originally stored next to each other in Helen Sipala's scrapbook. [Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania.] Black ink on typing paper. A wrinkle near the center, else near pristine. 8.5" x 11."

Wyeth wrote:

"Dear George + Helen:

Was here at 8:15 sorry I missed you

Been working hard -

Richard Meryman loved his visit -

much love always -

Andy -."

Richard Meryman (1926-2015) was a career journalist and personal friend of Andrew Wyeth. He wrote four books on Andrew Wyeth: "Andrew Wyeth" (1968); a young adult book, "First Impressions: Andrew Wyeth" (1991); "Andrew Wyeth: A Secret Life" (1996); and "Andrew Wyeth: A Spoken Self-Portrait" (2013.)

Provenance

George & Helen Sipala lived at Painter's Folly, near Route 1 (or Baltimore Pike) in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania from 1974 until 2018. Painter's Folly was an Italianate style residence built in 1857 that had served as Howard Pyle's summer art colony around the turn of the twentieth century; Wyeth's father had studied there.

In her letter of authenticity, Helen Sipala states that Andrew Wyeth's first visit to Painter's Folly occurred on March 1, 1989, after Wyeth had rambled onto the property to study a pair of mermaid statues. Wyeth's home and studio was located about 1.5 miles to the southwest of Painter's Folly. The artist was cordially received and granted full access to the house, roofline, and property. Wyeth visited regularly, sometimes almost daily, over the next 20 years until his death in 2009. Painter's Folly is depicted in Wyeth's work of the same name, from 1989 (see picture included for reference). In the end, about half a dozen Wyeth works feature either Painter's Folly or the Sipalas.

Helen wrote in part:

"When we weren't home, he [Andy] would leave us a written note on the kitchen table to let us know of his visit. At first it was any little piece of paper he could find until we realized that a pad was necessary. As you will see, the notes pertained to what he was working on, the time of the day, and with a personal sketch or two.

The notes were signed with various comical notations or signatures. Robin Hood, The Snowman, The man on the roof, Old Bones, The Spirit, etc. were just a few. Sketches might explain what he was working on or just silly thoughts in his head…Little did he know, that these simple drawings and letters would become a real part of our lives, and, hopefully, a real part of Andy's legacy…"

Wyeth and the Sipalas also socialized together in Chadds Ford, Maine, and elsewhere, and Helen Sipala also occasionally posed for him. Helen Sipala relied on recollections, diary entries, and the voluminous collection of ephemera that Andy left behind on his visits to compose her memoir, "Beyond the Marriage Bed: My Years as Friend, Model and Confidante of Andrew Wyeth" (Berkeley, California: Regent Press, 2021), edited by Bruce E. Mowbray. In 2018, Painter's Folly was purchased by Chadds Ford as part of its Historic and Open Space inventory initiatives.

Andrew Wyeth was the youngest child of nationally acclaimed illustrator Newell Convers Wyeth (1882-1945). Andrew became known for his spare, stark, monochrome depictions of nature and rural American life. His moving work "Christina's World" (1948), showing his physically disabled neighbor Christina Olson stretched out in a field, is emblematic of Wyeth's style and tone. He typically sketched in pencil or watercolor, and his finished large-scale artwork was accomplished in either watercolor, drybrush watercolor, or egg tempera.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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