James Baquet

    One would be hard-pressed to come up with someone who is the third famous artist in three generations in a direct line. Jamie Wyeth (1946- ) is just such a person.

    His grandfather was N. C. Wyeth (1882-1945), widely considered to be one of the greatest American illustrators of the 20th century. With over 3,000 paintings and 112 books illustrated, he was a realist whose work rivaled that of the new invention, the camera.

    N. C. Wyeth had five children, four of whom have been known as artists in their own rights. The eldest was Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009), one of the best-known American artists of the mid-20th century. The evocative “Christina’s World,” painted when he was just 31, is perhaps his most famous work.

    Andrew in turn had only two sons, and the second, James (“Jamie”) Browning Wyeth, is our subject today. The oldest, Nicholas, became an art dealer.

    As the son and grandson of famous artists, Jamie had some unusual influences. He grew up at Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, as had his father. After six years of public school, he requested home-schooling so he could concentrate on his artistic studies.

    He studied with his aunt Carolyn Wyeth, also an artist, who lived in his late grandfather’s house and worked in his studio. Of course, he was surrounded by art — paintings, books, excursions to exhibitions, and seeing the business side of the profession. His family allowed him to travel to New York City to study art — and to visit the city morgue to learn human anatomy.

    Like both of his forebears, Wyeth’s work tends to realism. Although he has covered a wide variety of subjects — including landscape, architecture, and even animals — his most famous works are portraits such as those of President John F. Kennedy (and his brothers Robert and Ted), President-to-be Jimmy Carter, fellow-artist Andy Warhol, dancer Rudolf Nureyev, and actor (later California Governor) Arnold Schwarzenegger.

    At age 69, this scion of one of America’s greatest families of artists continues working today.

    Vocabulary

    Which word above means:

    1. find something difficult

    2. offspring, heir, descendant

    3. in order, when one’s time comes

    4. calling forth an emotional response

    5. without need of support from (or association with) others

    6. a place where dead bodies are stored

    7. a painter who uses a lot of natural detail

    8. a place where a painter works

    9. competed with

    10. the teaching of children at home