Live Auction 17661American Art
Newell Convers Wyeth (1882-1945)
Lot 78

Newell Convers Wyeth (1882-1945)

“On the Wings of the Evening” (New Story Magazine, cover illustration)

Closed20 November 2019

Price Realised

USD 150,000

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Newell Convers Wyeth (1882-1945)
“On the Wings of the Evening” (New Story Magazine, cover illustration)
signed 'N.C. Wyeth' (lower right)
oil on canvas
44 x 32 in. (111.8 x 81.3 cm.)
Painted in 1912.

Street & Smith, New York, by 1961.
Conde Nast Publications, Inc., New York, acquired from the above, 1962.
Graham Gallery, New York, acquired from the above, 1964.
La Galeria San Mateo, California, acquired from the above, 1977.
Acquired by the late owner from the above, 1977.

Specialist note


The present work was published as the cover of the December 1912 issue of New York Story Magazine, accompanying Wright Beach Paulman’s short story “On the Wings of the Evening." Set in Washington State near the Puyallap River, the story centers on aviator Fred Connover and Perry Oliver, who both are seeking the love of heiress Alice Patterson. Sabatoged by his mechanic, Henri Bell, Connover's plane crashes and Oliver captures Alice, only to be thwarted by Connover. The present scene depicts the moment after Connover defends Alice from his two-timing mechanic, Bell, who lays on the ground defeated: “...A ghastly figure bounded in, brandishing an ugly, curved-edge dirk. With a snarl it leapt at the aviator. He whirled Alice behind him…Two shots rang out from his coat pocket. The mechanic stopped short…he fell easily sidewise, and moved no more...” (W.B. Paulhan, "On the Wings of Evening," New York Story Magazine, p. 70)