A 2pp autograph letter signed by American realist artist Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) as "Andy" on the second page. August 3, 2003. [Benner Island, Maine.] The 100+ word letter is inscribed on either side of custom letterhead, with "Benner Island - Maine" embossed in green along the letterhead. Expected wear including a few gentle edge wrinkles, else near pristine. 7.25" x 10.5." 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.

Wyeth had just turned 86 years old on July 17, 2003. He addressed this letter to his Chadds Fords neighbors George & Helen Sipala, in full:

"August 3, 2003

Dear Helen + George -

I am here for a couple of days - Last night we had great excitement on the island, a Bull moose swam out from Allen island, Betsy was in the kitchen getting dinner and the moose walked by her kitchen window!! It was wonderful to hear from you Helen, I certainly miss not seeing you and George. I am feeling better and doing some painting - but it has been a shade warm[?] for me -

Betsys [sic] article in Architectural Digest has caused great interest - I am enclosing two copies Charlies [?] had made -

my love to you both,

Andy."

"Betsy" referred to Wyeth's wife of 63 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.

Wyeth mentions in the letter that Betsy had recently been featured in an article of "Architectural Digest." (The article by Paul Theroux was entitled "Enchanted Isle: Betsy Wyeth's Magical Benner Island, Off the Coast of Maine" and was released as the "Decorating + Renovation" feature of the May 31, 2003 issue of "Architectural Digest.") The article describes how Betsy carefully oversaw the architectural, environmental, and economic rehabilitation of both islands. She imported in historic buildings, and also commissioned the construction of locally sourced, hand-built, or recycled cedar shingled structures with names like Fish House, Salt Shed, and Round House. (Wyeth called Betsy's building projects "Betsy's villages.") In addition, Betsy cultivated the natural environment not only to beautify it, but also to promote local business and fisheries, all the while providing a picturesque backdrop for Wyeth's artwork. Both Allen and Benner Islands were acquired by Colby College in February 2022.

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 Newell Convers Wyeth (1882-1945). Andrew became known for his spare, stark, monochromatic 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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