Freeman’s Hindman to Offer Rare N.C. Wyeth Painting from Historic Brandywine Baptist Church
This June 8, Freeman’s Hindman is honored to present In Naaman’s House, a powerful and evocative canvas by celebrated American illustrator N.C. Wyeth. Offered directly from the Brandywine Baptist Church in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania—where the painting has been treasured for over half a century—this historic sale marks the first appearance of the oil on the open market.
A Moment of Faith and Transformation
Commissioned in 1929 by Good Housekeeping to illustrate Bruce Barton's story The Little Maid in the Captain’s House, In Naaman’s House captures a pivotal biblical scene from the Second Book of Kings. In the narrative, a young Jewish maid persuades her master, the Syrian military commander Naaman, to seek healing from the prophet Elisha after witnessing his affliction with leprosy.
Wyeth’s painting renders this encounter with characteristic drama and emotional resonance. The girl, placed humbly a step below Naaman, nevertheless radiates strength and conviction—a quiet yet profound challenge to the hierarchy of power. Her courage, as conveyed through Wyeth’s bold brushstrokes and nuanced composition, transforms the moment into a timeless allegory of faith, humility, and spiritual awakening.
As Barton wrote, biblical stories “leave the pictures to the reader’s imagination, and we are fortunate to have the eyes of Mr. Wyeth through which we may look and see.” Here, Wyeth doesn’t just illustrate a story—he enshrines its moral force in paint.
A Gift Rooted in Legacy and Devotion
In 1964, more than three decades after the painting’s creation, Wyeth’s widow Carolyn donated the work to the Brandywine Baptist Church in memory of her late husband, who had died tragically in 1945. “I felt that presentation of the painting to the only church in Chadds Ford was what N.C. Wyeth would have wanted,” she explained.
Founded in 1692, Brandywine Baptist Church is the second-oldest congregation in Pennsylvania. The painting was formally dedicated during a special ceremony that same year, with church leaders praying it would serve as both a reminder of the biblical story and a source of spiritual inspiration for all who worship there. For decades, it has fulfilled that role—gracing the sanctuary walls with artistic and sacred significance.
From Sacred Space to Public Auction
Brandywine Baptist Church was first organized in what was then Birmingham Township, Chester County, and traces its origins to early settlers associated with Thomas Powell of Upper Providence. During the American Revolutionary War, the church grounds stood witness to the Battle of the Brandywine, with historical figures such as George Washington and famed evangelist George Whitefield connected to its storied past. Revolutionary soldiers remain buried in the nearby cemetery—now a focus of restoration by the Brandywine Heritage Preservation Foundation in preparation for the United States Semiquincentennial in 2026.
Proceeds from the sale of In Naaman’s House will support these preservation efforts, particularly the restoration of the historic cemetery and interpretive projects related to the Battle of the Brandywine.
As the three-century-old church passes on this extraordinary piece of its heritage, collectors and admirers of American illustration now have a rare opportunity to acquire a museum-worthy piece with a deeply personal provenance. Offered in pristine condition, with direct provenance and imbued with the legacy of one of America’s foremost illustrators, In Naaman’s House stands not only as a masterwork of narrative painting, but as a testament to the bond that united the Wyeth family to the Brandywine region.