An extraordinary collection of 20 paintings by the illustrious Wyeth family of artists, amassed by the distinguished businesswoman, philanthropist, and art connoisseur Linda L. Bean (1941-2024), is set to command attention at Bonhams’ American Art sale on November 19. Bean, the granddaughter of L.L. Bean’s founder, was a fervent patron of the arts with a deep-rooted passion for the artists of her native Maine, particularly the Wyeth dynasty. This dynasty spans three generations, each contributing significantly to the fabric of American art. The collection’s highlight is an enchanting coastal scene of Bean’s cherished Port Clyde, Maine, painted circa 1936 by Newell Convers (N.C.) Wyeth (1882-1945), Bean’s personal favorite. This masterpiece is estimated to fetch between $1,200,000 and $1,800,000.
A lifelong resident of Maine, Bean was widely recognized for her unwavering dedication to the state’s history, culture, and community. Her affinity for the Wyeths, who frequently depicted Maine’s picturesque landscapes, began in 1992 when she stumbled upon a book of N.C. Wyeth’s letters at an antiques show. Over the next three decades, she immersed herself in the Wyeth family’s history, amassing an impressive collection of their paintings and illustrations. In 2018, she established the N.C. Wyeth Research Foundation and Reading Libraries. Bean spent her final 17 years in the quaint fishing village of Port Clyde, a place the Wyeth family has frequented since 1920, operating the local General Store and Dip Net Restaurant.
Bean’s devotion to Maine was also evident in her philanthropic endeavors. Her substantial support for institutions such as the Monhegan Museum of Art and History, the Farnsworth Art Museum, and the Maine Historical Society significantly enriched the cultural landscape of the state. Her generosity extended to enhancing libraries, churches, fire departments, and youth camps throughout Maine, leaving a lasting impact on numerous communities. Bean’s legacy of benevolence also reached beyond Maine, benefiting organizations like the Brandywine Conservancy and Museum of Art in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, where she served as a trustee.
The auction will showcase works by eight artists from three generations of the Wyeth/McCoy family. Leading the collection are pieces by N.C. Wyeth, the artistic patriarch, and his son Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009), who is regarded as one of the premier American painters of the latter half of the 20th century. The collection also features works by the second and third generations, including Henriette Wyeth (1907-1997), Ann Wyeth McCoy (1915-2005), John W. McCoy (1910-1989), Anna Brelsford McCoy (b. 1940), George Alexis Weymouth (1936-2016), and Jamie Wyeth (b. 1946). Noteworthy highlights from the collection include:
- Two oil paintings by N.C. Wyeth – Self Portrait in Top Hat and Cape, circa 1927, estimated at $400,000 to $600,000, and Hungry, But Stern, on the Depot Platform (The Imitation Bad Man), 1905, estimated at $300,000 to $500,000.
- A watercolor on paper titled Island Dawn, 1941, by Andrew Wyeth, estimated at $120,000 to $180,000, alongside The Gam, a watercolor and graphite on paper created in 1938, estimated at $100,000 to $150,000.
- Two pieces by renowned American realist painter Jamie Wyeth – Dead Cat Museum, Monhegan Island, 1999, estimated at $300,000 to $500,000, and a.w. Double A.W. Study / Heads and Hands, 2019, estimated at $40,000 to $60,000.
- A portrait of Ann Wyeth McCoy by Henriette Wyeth, known for her exceptional portraits and still life paintings, estimated at $20,000 to $30,000.
- Pa’s Studio, circa 1930, by Ann Wyeth McCoy, a talented composer, pianist, and painter, estimated at $1,000 to $1,500.