Lot 109

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Lot 109
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A. Wyeth 2x Signed Lascivious Letter Re: "Sports Illustrated" Painted Models: "if the so called artist hadn't messed it up with paint"
A. Wyeth 2x Signed Lascivious Letter Re: "Sports Illustrated" Painted Models: "if the so called artist hadn't messed it up with paint"
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Description:

Andrew Wyeth
[Benner Island, ME], [September 23, 2008]
A. Wyeth 2x Signed Lascivious Letter Re: "Sports Illustrated" Painted Models: "if the so called artist hadn't messed it up with paint"
ALS
An autograph letter signed by American realist artist Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) as "Andy" near the bottom. The 60-word letter is written on the inside of a greeting card featuring a fine reproduction print of Wyeth's original tempera on panel, "The Carry" (2003). [September 23, 2008.] [Benner Island, Maine.] Some ink ghost impressions within the flattened card, else near pristine. Measures 7" x 9.875" unfolded. Also accompanied by its original transmittal envelope, entirely engrossed by Wyeth in feathery capital letters, and additionally signed by him as "A. Wyeth" on the return address panel verso. Bearing two canceled stamps, and neatly letter-opened at top. With terrific provenance.

Wyeth addressed this letter to his Chadds Ford neighbors George & Helen Sipala, thanking them for sending him a special issue of "Sports Illustrated" (not included in this lot.) This almost certainly referred to a kitschy issue featuring the art of Joanne Gair entitled "In the Paint: the complete body-painting collection from the S.I. Swimsuit Issue," on newsstands until October 13, 2008. The 91-year-old Wyeth lustily approved of the images within -- the likes of supermodels Rebecca Romijn and Heidi Klum spray painted with bikinis -- but bemoaned the fact that he couldn't see all of the details. Wyeth's zest for life was evidently not affected by his advanced age. He died less than 4 months later, in mid-January 2009.

Wyeth wrote in full:

"Dearest Helen + George -

We received the Sports Illustrated magazine and Betsy loved it - I would like it better if the so called artist hadn't messed it up with paint. So that I could really enjoy the young ladies!!

Its [sic] been to [sic] long [a] summer up here can't wait to get back to Chadds -

All my love Andy."

"Betsy" referred to Wyeth's wife of 67 years, Betsy James Wyeth (1922-2020). Betsy was a powerful creative and intellectual force in her husband's life. She had purchased two adjacent private islands located five miles south of Port Clyde, Maine in 1979 and 1990 respectively, in part to provide her husband with en plein air painting opportunities. Allen Island and Benner Island combined encompassed 500 acres of wild coastal Maine scenery. It was on smaller 50-acre Benner Island that Betsy lived at Oar House from mid-May to mid-October of every year.

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 N.C. Wyeth. 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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    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.
    • Dimensions:
  • card: 7" x 9.875"
    • Artist Name:
  • Andrew Wyeth
    • Medium:
  • ALS

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