Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) was home schooled because of his ill-health. His father, N.C Wyeth, who was an accomplished illustrator, was the only teacher he had. Because of this, Wyeth lead a sheltered life. At age 20, Wyeth had his first exhibition of watercolors at the Macbeth Gallery in New York City. His entire inventory of paintings sold out. He was considered a realist artist and he maintained that style for over seventy years.

Wyeth may be best known for his series of 247 studies of Helga Testorf, a German-born caregiver he met while she was tending to Karl Kuerner at his farm. He painted her without either of their spouses’ knowledge from 1971-1985. A Philadelphia publisher, Leonard E.B. Andrews, purchased almost the entire collection in 1986. The collection was exhibited at the National Gallery of Art and with a nationwide tour in 1987. The tour created controversy in the art community about whether Wyeth was a great artist or a mere illustrator.  

Wyeth’s art appeared on one cover of The Saturday Evening Post.