The Apprenticeship of Andrew Wyeth: Painting a Family Legacy -- Gene Barretta, Hardcover

Celebrate the defining moments of a great American painter's journey to creating his own voice in this stunning portrait of Andrew Wyeth.

Andrew Wyeth is one of the greatest American painters of the twentieth century. Before he found his creative voice, he was a boy growing up in an artistic family, spending his time in rural Pennsylvania and Maine. Andy, as he was called by his family, was trained by his father, renowned artist N.C. Wyeth, but they didn't always see eye to eye. Pa wanted his son to work in bold, bright colors, and to fill his compositions with exciting characters and places. But to Andy, the most exciting stories to paint were the ones he lived every day, that featured the familiar people and places he loved most.

Here's a portrait of a masterful American painter whose childhood shaped the painter he would become. It showcases Andrew Wyeth's unique world. The back matter includes six reproductions of celebrated Wyeth paintings.

"A truly fantastic book for those who are young and young at heart. Gene Barretta does an incredible job of tracing my grandfather's evolution as an artist from a little boy to a ninety-one-year old man. This thoughtful book takes readers inside Andy's head and allows us to look at the world through his eyes." - Victoria Browning Wyeth

Author: Gene Barretta
Publisher: Christy Ottaviano Books-Little Brown and Hach
Published: 10/07/2025
Pages: 40
Binding Type: Hardcover
Size: 11.25h x 9.75w x 0.38d
ISBN: 9780316339087
Audience: Ages 9-12

Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/01/2025

About the Author

Gene Barretta is the author and illustrator of Now & Ben: The Modern Inventions of Benjamin Franklin, Neo Leo: The Ageless Ideas of Leonardo Da Vinci, and Timeless Thomas: How Thomas Edison Changed Our Lives, which was the recipient of a Cook Honor from Bank Street College of Education. He holds a B.F.A. in Film Studies from New York University, and has worked for many years in film and television production. He lives in Wynnewood, Pennsylvania with his son and invites you to visit him online at genebarretta.com.