Three Letters from ANDREW WYETH (American, 1917-2009) to Alice Moore

About Auction

Live

The Fall Auction

By Grogan & Company

Nov 11, 2018

Set Reminder 2018-11-11 12:00:00 2018-11-11 12:00:00 America/New_York Bidsquare Bidsquare : The Fall Auction https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/grogan/the-fall-auction-3560
Featuring a curated selection of nearly to 500 lots of fine art, jewelry, silver, and decorative arts from private collections and estates throughout New England and beyond. Grogan & Company info@groganco.com

View Full Catalog (471)

• Lot Description
  Three Letters from ANDREW WYETH (American, 1917-2009) to Alice Moore
  Mailed Tuesday, November 30, 1937, South Carolina
  Dearest Alice,
  Well here I am in the South what a change it is from Maine everything is so sleepy here I never expected it to be so warm.
  The color of the oaks with the Spanish moss is really beautiful, I expect to do some water colors of them later.
  I have been hunting most of the time since I arrived. I really hate like hell to kill things though. I have shot four ducks. I hope you will forgive me although I won't blame you if you don't, it's hard for me to forgive my self.
  I am writing you this note from a duck blind do you know what that is here is what it looks like [sketch with notations: I got up at four o'clock this morning and went with a negro guide in a small boat through the rice field. It took us about an hour [sketch, captioned "My Guide"] before we reached the duck blind. It was a very effective trip, I wish you could have been there. The Negros are swell down here. I would love to paint some of them. Of course the only way to paint this place would be to live here which I will never do but this is a great chance for some artist.
  This is quite a plantation that has about fifty Negros on it. The little buildings they live in are interesting. They look so small under the large oaks.
  I am going on a deer drive tomorrow, hope we don't get any. [Full sheet skethc of houses under a tree with figure in foreground.]
  I want to tell you how swell it was having you at Chadds Ford. You must certainly come down again or I will be damn mad. I only wish it was possible for you to be down here with me instead of working in that terrible place you are. You have been on my mind ever since you left me Friday and when I think how far I am from you I feel terrible. Alice, I hope the time goes quickly till I see you again.
  Please excuse this paper but my sketch book was the only thing I had with me this morning to write on and standing here alone I can't help thinking about you when I think about you I wonder why the hell we have to be kept apart so long then I wonder does she love me and that's the way my mind works.
  My address here is Cat Island Plantation, South Carolina, c/o Mrs. Wm. G. Ramsay
  I am thinking of you my dear and you try to think of me.
  Love, Andy
  
  Mailed Sunday, December 19, 1937
  My Dearest,
  I am terribly sorry my letter seemed cold. I truly didn't mean it believe me-Please. I am coming to New York Thursday and will call you some time in the afternoon.
  My letters may seem cold but you can't call me cool when I am with you, can you?
  Love
  Andy
  [Along left margin] Ann McCoy's engagement is broken off
  
  Sunday, December, 1937; mailed December 18, 1937
  My Dearest,
  Well here I am back on the job again and I must say that I am rather glad. The visit South though was worthwhile and an experience I won't forget. I met some very nice people in Charlestown and went to some really swell parties I will tell you about the when I see you.
  I can't tell you how badly I felt down there and how often I wished I was with you. Your letter was lovely and filled with so much pep after I received it I went out and did three water colors two of which are pretty good, one of them was of a large Spanish oak with a little Negro boy sitting at the foot of it. I think it has very much the feeling of the South in it. I would like you to see it.
  I am planning to come to New York this Thursday to talk over some business with Macbeth and was wondering whether we could get together Friday night. Would it be possible for you and Peggy to come into New York Friday night. Jim Balano and I could meet you both at the train.
  I think we could have a swell time of it, don't you? We could arrange to stay at Jim's place. I have to be back here Saturday night for a dinner party which I can't get out of.
  But I wish you could arrange this with Peggy and let me know soon.
  Love,
  Andy
• Shipping Info

  • Grogan & Company does not offer in-house packing and shipping services; however, we work closely with a number of local businesses who are ready to address any and all of your shipping needs.

    Recommended shippers:

    Global Pack Ship
    617.743.6245
    globalpackship@aol.com

    UPS Store Needham
    508.314.1568
    store2897@theupsstore.com

• Buyer's Premium
  • 28.00 %