Illustrated letter from Andrew Wyeth to Merle and Elizabeth James, November 23, 1954.

Collection of the Wyeth Foundation for American Art

TRANSCRIPTION

Nov. 23, 1954
Chadds Ford, PA

Dearest Jim and Bess,

I am sitting here in the kitchen at the dinner table. Jamie is beside me drawing. Nicky is on the couch doing his lessons. It’s a cool cloudy night.

When I look out of our large window, I can see Mag’s House dark against the sky.

[Pen and ink drawing of the Margaret Handy House]

Up to three days ago we had been having very clear weather and I had been spending all my days up on the hill behind the village of Chadds Ford in a large corn field. The corn has yet been untouched and the color is that wonderful bleached out quality which corn get this time of year – when I walk through the rows of blowing corn I am reminded always of the way a king must have felt walking down the long line of knights on horseback with banners blowing.

[Pen and ink drawing of a king walking before a line of knights on horseback]

[Pen and ink drawing of the Margaret Handy House]

I can think of nothing more exciting than just sitting in the corn on a windy day and listen [sic] to the dry rustle.

[Pen and ink drawing of cornstalks]

I love to study the many things that grow below the corn stalks and bring them back into the studio to study the color. If one could only catch that true color of nature. The very thought of it drives me mad.

We talk of you both so many times during the day and wonder what you are doing. We will be thinking of you Thanksgiving. Betsy has just told me she has written you both so I will not try and compete with her.

All my love to you both,

Andy —