Faculty Letter of Support
Painting Techniques of the Wyeth Family and Conservation of Their Works (Excerpt)
I needed to write an article on our Foundation of the American
Institute for Conservation oral history file for a London publication and was given
a very short deadline. My assistant came out to the file at Winterthur and quickly
provided the index and organization which had been keenly needed for several years.
She demonstrated amazing powers of concentration, energy, and good sense. (This
required that she stay in a small room at the bottom of the library for hours on
end; she was never bored, never complaining, and truly picked up on the significance
of the file and its contents to her own career and study in Art Conservation).
She could provide a unique service both to my research and to the care of the Wyeth
paintings and archives in local collections if this project goes forth. She could
use the interviews and materials I have gathered thus far to understand the particular
problems in the conservation of the work of Andrew and Jamie Wyeth. Andrew Wyeth
has been using egg tempera on gessoed panels for more than 60 years. Many of these
works exhibit a white efflorescence and pinpoint flaking that is of great concern
to both the Wyeth family and current owners of their works. These works must be
handled and discussed by someone who understands these unique characteristics and
current best methods of care.
Much research is hindered by the fact that there are N.C. Wyeth oil paintings and
Andrew Wyeth watercolors that have been in somewhat uncontrolled local storage,
and archival material on Jamie Wyeth that has been put away in drawers and never
organized. We have several treatment projects being considered for the summer with
which she could assist; in order to apply to graduate school in art conservation,
she needs at least 400 hours of practical experience in examination and treatment
of art works. Excellent practical experience could also be gathered during the course
of this project; this would also inform her use of archives and her ability to carry
out appropriate condition assessments.
Student Proposal