Andrew Wyeth: The Helga Pictures (Inscribed by Helga) by Wyeth, Andrew; Testorf, Helga (Subject); Brown, J. Carter (Foreword); Andrews, Leonard E. B.; Wilmerding, John - 1987

New York, NY: Harry N. Abrams, Inc, 1987. First Edition. Hard Cover. Fine/Fine. When the series of over 240 paintings and drawings of Helga Testorf by the American master, Andrew Wyeth (1917-2009) came to the light the art world sprang back in surprise. It was also believed that Wyeth's closest confidant, his wife, Betsy James Wyeth, was unaware of the artist-model relationship and the work he produced between 1971 and 1985. The works were considered controversial and toured to six venues between 1987 and 1989 to great popular acclaim, this being the catalog for that traveling exhibition. Helga Testorf, a native of Germany, first worked for Wyeth's friends, the Kuerners, as a caregiver and likely first met Andrew in that environment as he painted the Kuerners and their farm on a regular basis. In later years Helga also worked as a caregiver for Andrew as he aged and traveled with the family from their home in Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania, to midcoast Maine where the family has summered for generations. It was in Camden, Maine, that Helga Testorf inscribed this copy to the owner of ABCD Books and her store manager on July 9, 1999. 208 pp. 4to. Minor scuffing to dust jacket from shelf wear, now in mylar cover. Red Cloth boards with gold embossed titling to cover board and spine. Clean and crisp within with small stain at head of text block near the foredge.