NEWELL CONVERS WYETH (1882-1945)
162
●
BUILDING THE FIRST WHITE HOUSE. 1932.
39
3
/
4
x27
1
/
2
inches, 101x70 cm. The Pennsylvania Railroad Company.
Condition B+ / B: extensive, expert overpainting in margins and image; repaired tears at edges.
This was the fourth, and final image Wyeth designed for the Pennsylvania Railroad. In April, 1932,
The Railroad’s periodical,
Mutual Magazine
, printed Wyeth’s own description of the scene: “President
Washington’s interest in the erection of the building was constant throughout the years he served in
office . . . It is known that he made occasional visits to the new building . . . And so I have chosen to
picture one of these. . . . It is a day in the early summer of 1798, about the time that the slates for the
roof were being laid. Mr. Washington stands beside architect [James] Hoban, both intent upon some
question concerning the building. At the left is a group of visitors, friends perhaps of Washington. On
the right, two of Mr. Hoban’s assistants.” In 1971, Richard Nixon used this image for the White House
Christmas card. Zega p. 91.
[1,000/1,500]
