N. C. (Newell Convers) Wyeth (1882-1945),
Our Emblem, c.1942, oil on panel, 30 1/8
x 22 3/4 inches. Brigham Young University Museum of Art, gift of Frederick R. Hinckley, 1985.To commemorate Flag Day this week on June 14, we highlight Our Emblem by N. C. Wyeth. This painting evokes a vision of America as a strong and secure nation. Created as part of a calendar series, Our Emblem responded to the challenge of World War II. Wyeth, an illustrator of such well-read books as Robert Louis Stevenson's Treasure Island, portrays the symbolic American eagle protecting a tranquil small town. Boldly instilled with old-fashioned patriotism, this work helped to infuse an embattled America with national pride.