THE HELGA PICTURES by ANDREW WYETH - SIGNED & INSCRIBED by HELGA, 1st Ed & DJ

Description: WYETH, ANDREW. Andrew Wyeth - The Helga Pictures. New York: Harry N. Abrams, 1987. First Edition, First Printing. Signed and inscribed by Andrew Wyeth’s secret model, Helga Testorf, to the owner and store manager in 1999 of the now closed ABCD Books of Camden, Maine. Helga Testorf has the distinction of being the last unknown person to become world famous on the basis of a painting, in this case her striking portrait in a turtleneck sweater wearing brads, which is reproduced in the book and as well on the cover of the dust jacket. When the hidden series of over 240 paintings and drawings including a number of nudes of Helga Testorf by the American master artist, Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) came to the light the art world was startled. It was also believed that Wyeth's closest confidant, his wife, Betsy James Wyeth, was unaware of the artist-model relationship and the work he produced between 1971 and 1985. The works were considered controversial and toured to six venues between 1987 and 1989 to great popular acclaim, this being the accompanying book for that traveling exhibition. Helga Testorf, a native of Germany, first worked for Wyeth's friends, the Kuerners, as a caregiver and likely first met Andrew in that environment as he painted the Kuerners and their farm on a regular basis. In later years Helga also worked as a caregiver for Andrew as he aged and traveled with the family from their home in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, to midcoast Maine where the family has summered for generations. 208 page coffee table book. Minor scuffing to dust jacket from shelf wear, now in mylar cover. Red Cloth boards with gold embossed titling to cover board and spine. Fine in a fine dust jacket.

Price: 900 USD

Location: Santa Barbara, California

End Time: 2025-01-14T19:30:53.000Z

Shipping Cost: 6 USD