N. C. Wyeth House and Studio facts for kids
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N. C. Wyeth House and Studio
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Wyeth House in 2010
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Murphy Road Chadds Ford Township, Pennsylvania, United States |
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| Area | 18 acres (7.3 ha) |
| Built | 1911 |
| Architect | William D. Brincklé; et al. |
| Architectural style | Colonial Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 97001680 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | December 9, 1997 |
| Designated NHLD | December 9, 1997 |
The N. C. Wyeth House and Studio is a historic home and artist's workspace located on Murphy Road in Chadds Ford Township, Pennsylvania. This property was the main home and studio of the famous artist N.C. Wyeth (1882-1945) starting in 1911. It has been carefully restored to look just as it did around the time of his death. Today, the Brandywine River Museum takes care of the property and offers tours for visitors. Because of its importance, it was named a National Historic Landmark District in 1997.
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What is the Wyeth House and Studio?
The Wyeth House and Studio are found in a quiet, country-like area near Chadds Ford. They sit on about 18 acres of land. This land includes the main house, the art studio, a barn, and a pump house. The property is bordered by Murphy Road to the north and Brandywine Creek to the south.
A Home with History
The house is built on a small hill that is part of the Brandywine Battlefield. This area was used by Continental Army troops during the 1777 Battle of Brandywine. The house itself is a two-story building designed in the Colonial Revival style. William Draper Brinkle designed it for N.C. Wyeth, and it was built in 1911. In 1926, the house was made bigger to create more space for Wyeth's growing family.
The Artist's Studio
The studio is a large, L-shaped building with one story. It was built in different stages in 1911, 1923, and 1931. The main part of the studio has a special large window that faces north. This type of window, called a Palladian window, lets in a lot of natural light. This was perfect for an artist like Wyeth.
N.C. Wyeth: A Famous Artist
N.C. Wyeth was known as one of the best illustrators in the early 1900s. His artwork appeared in popular magazines like Harper's, Scribner's, McClure's, and the Saturday Evening Post. Wyeth found a lot of ideas and inspiration from the beautiful landscape around his home. This natural setting influenced many of his paintings of rural scenes. He bought this property with money he earned from his first big job. This job was creating illustrations for a special edition of Robert Louis Stevenson's book, Treasure Island.
The Wyeth Family Legacy
After N.C. Wyeth passed away in 1945, his wife continued to live in the house until 1973. Then, their daughter, Carolyn Wyeth, lived there and painted in the studio until she died in 1994. The Brandywine River Museum then took over the property. They began to restore it to how it looked in 1945. Today, the house still contains paintings that Wyeth left unfinished when he died. It also has many family items that have always stayed on the property.
Visiting the Studio Today
In 2012, N.C. Wyeth's studio was opened to the public for the very first time since his death. The museum now offers guided tours of the house and studio. It became even easier to visit in 2017. New walking trails were opened, connecting Potts Meadow, the Andrew Wyeth Studio, and the N.C. Wyeth House and Studio.
See also
