James Browning Wyeth, also known as Jamie Wyeth, is a third-generation American artist known for his paintings of animals and people. Born on July 6, 1946, in Wilmington, Delaware, Wyeth grew up in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, where he still resides part of each year. His mother is Betsy (James) Wyeth, and he has an older brother, Nicholas. Wyeth comes from a family of artists; his father, Andrew Wyeth, is among the country’s most popular painters, and his grandfather, Newell Convers Wyeth, is famous for his distinctive illustrations for classic novels by Stevenson, Cooper, and Scott.
From adolescence, Wyeth attracted considerable attention as an artist. His paintings of livestock and other animals show the same care and intensity he devotes to portraits of people. Wyeth won precocious fame with Portrait of Pig, his picture of a pink and white sow. His technical facility helped explain why his first one-man show in New York happened when he was only 20, and a retrospective in Omaha, Nebraska, occurred before his 30th birthday.
Wyeth’s paintings hung in the permanent collections of the Wilmington Society of Art in Wilmington, Delaware, and in the William A. Farnsworth Library and Art Museum in Rockland, Maine, by the time he was 18. He began to paint portraits in oils, examining all aspects of the appearance and character of the people he painted. Works such as Draft Age and Shorty still stand among his most powerful portraits.
In 1971, Wyeth’s work became more widely known when it was shown alongside his father’s and grandfather’s at an exhibition at the newly opened Brandywine River Museum at Chadds Ford. The exhibition was a highlight for Wyeth’s meticulously executed Portrait of Pig, which spans seven by five feet. Wyeth has since created many other “portraits” of animals, ranging from Newfoundland (1971) to The Raven (1980).
Wyeth’s works have been exhibited in galleries and museums across the United States, including the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. He has received numerous awards and honors for his contributions to the art world, including being elected to the National Academy of Design and the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
James Browning Wyeth, a third-generation American artist, has made significant contributions to the art world with his paintings of animals and people. His technical facility, care, and intensity in painting make his works stand out, with his Portrait of Pig being a highlight of his career. Wyeth’s works continue to be exhibited in galleries and museums worldwide, showcasing his talent and dedication to his craft. His legacy as a third-generation artist continues to inspire and influence the art world, making him a notable figure in American art.
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