197 206
“ART MUSEUMS SHOULD DEVOTE A SMALL
SECTIONTO . . . ILLUSTRATIVEWORK”
309
●
WYETH, N.C. Autograph Letter Signed, with a postscript Signed, “W,” to “My
dear Mr. Barrett,” describing the kinds of art he has done, where the works have exhibited,
giving his opinion concerning the place of illustration in the world of fine art, outlining
some works that are in progress, and, in a postscript, asking whether he knows a botany
teacher of Wyeth’s who helped give him his start. 5 pages, square 8vo, written on three sep-
arate sheets, personal stationery; staple holes in left margin, horizontal fold.
Chadds Ford, [1930s]
[1,000/1,500]
“
. . . I have exhibited my illustrative canvases at various times and places in the past fifteen
years—NewYork, Boston, Chicago, Cleveland—in fact in most of the larger centers of the U.S.
The majority of these canvases have been sold to libraries, schools, and to individual buyers. . . .
“
Although I most emphatically believe that art museums should devote a small section to
examples of illustrative work . . . I am frank to admit that the graphic illustrators’ product has
no rightful place in the galleries restricted to the works of master painters.There is a vast differ-
ence between the two branches of art.
“
I started, as a pupil of the late Howard Pyle, to become an illustrator. . . . [I]n the last ten
years I have expanded into the larger field of mural painting . . . .
“
Another line of development—landscape and figure painting (which I have never publicly
exhibited) has recently received recognition.The Art Institute of Chicago has invited a sizable
group of these paintings to their American Painters Show next fall. These latter works are,
most decidedly, my best efforts thus far. . . .”
From the postscript: “. . . If you are a native of Dorchester, do you remember the teacher of
botany in the public schools there years ago—Fanny Zirngiebel?—a cousin, and she did much
to get me started.”
310
●
(ARTISTS.) Three letters, each Signed by a 20th-century illustrator: Charles
Addams * Maxfield Parrish * Howard Pyle. The Addams letter, ALS, “Charles,” to “Dear
Ken,” about his “Bug” [Bugatti? Beetle?] and the “Hefner job.” 1
1
/
2
pages, 4to, “New
Yorker” stationery; faint dampstaining along left edge, horizontal folds. The Parrish letter,
TLS, to Charles Gafly, about a mutual young friend writing about spiritual enlightenment.
1 page, 4to, personal stationery; paper clip stain at upper left.The Pyle letter,TLS, to “Dear
Mr. Scudder,” sending a drawing for the “Last Sea Fight of the Revenge” [not present]. 1
page, oblong 8vo; vertical folds.
NewYork, 26 September 1956;Windsor, 15 September 1925;
Wilmington, 9 December 1901
[500/750]
Addams: “. . . I’d convinced myself I should never own a Bug again. However mine used to
balk due to sillier things than jammed electrodes—like a lady bug in the gas line.
“
The Hefner job should be no mistake at that figure. Gibbs told me he sold them a piece for 2
G’s last week.
“
Let’s try again with the Bugatti. . . .”
E N D O F S A L E