Roasted Chestnuts

from the sources

• The painting depicts Alan Messersmith, a neighbor of Wyeth in Chadds Ford who modeled for several paintings. collections.brandywine.org

  “Here he portrays Alan Messersmith, Wyeth’s Chadds Ford neighbor and a model for several paintings over the years.”

• The scene shows Messersmith selling chestnuts from a barrel along Route 202 in Chadds Ford, which was rural at the time. collections.brandywine.org

  “He is shown selling chestnuts out of a barrel along what was then rural Route 202 in Chadds Ford.”

• The museum says the painting conveys winter through its sky and the light crossing the road. collections.brandywine.org

  “Wyeth captures the feeling of winter in the sky and in the light that breaks across the road.”

• The museum describes the shadows, sunlight and track marks as forming an abstract pattern that draws the viewer into the scene. collections.brandywine.org

  “The shadows, sunlight and track marks in front of Messersmith create an abstract pattern that draws the viewer into the scene, punctuated by the elongated figure of Messersmith.”