For more than 70 years, the Kuerner Farm has been a major source of inspiration to Andrew Wyeth. Since his earliest painting of the farm in 1932 at the age of 15, Wyeth has found subjects in its people, animals, buildings and landscapes for nearly 1,000 works of art.

Wyeth discovered Karl and Anna Kuerner's farm, located approximately one mile from his parents' home in Chadds Ford, on one of his boyhood walks. Wyeth was intrigued by the Kuerners, who emigrated from Germany, and by Karl Kuerner's stories of his service in the German army during World War I. The Kuerners had strong ties to their heritage, continuing to speak German and socializing mostly with other German immigrants. Andrew Wyeth was one exception. As a young artist, he developed a close relationship with the Kuerners, and after years of gaining their trust, he was permitted to roam the property freely—even the inside of the house—to draw and paint. (For a complete history of the Kuerner Farm, click here).

Many of Wyeth's best-known works of art have emerged from his long fascination with the farm, including Winter 1946 (1946), Groundhog Day (1959), Evening at Kuerners (1970), Young Bull (1960), Spring Fed (1967), and Overflow (1978).

Thanks in large part to the philanthropic spirit of Karl Kuerner, Jr. and his family, the Brandywine River Museum acquired the Kuerner Farm in 1999 and began offering educational tours in 2004. Reproductions of Wyeth's works can be viewed on the tours, along with parts of the house, barn, and property to demonstrate how Wyeth alters the physical details of a site in order to communicate a particular idea.

Tours

ADMISSION
Tours are $5 in addition to regular museum admission, free to Brandywine Conservancy members. Tours are approximately one hour long and are offered Thursdays through Sundays from April 3 to November 23. Children under 6 are not permitted on the tours.