Andrew Newell Wyeth | 1917-2009

Andrew Wyeth poses with his painting, “The Drifter,” at his Chadds Ford, Pa., home in January 1970.  (Rusty Kennedy / Associated Press)

A photo from Brandywine River Museum in Chadds Ford, Pa., shows Andrew Wyeth in 1983 . The museum has an extensive collection of Wyeth’s paintings.  (Bruce Weber / AFP/Getty Images)

Andrew Wyeth and wife Betsy with his paintings “The Patriot” and “Maga’s Daughter” in May 1985. Betsy was the model for the latter work.  (Brandywine River Museum / Associated Press)

“Christina’s World” is considered Andrew Wyeth’s most enduring work. The subject is Christina Olson, a crippled woman who was Wyeth’s neighbor in Maine.  (Andrew Wyeth Collection / The Museum of Modern Art, New York, via Associated Press)

“Crown of Flowers 1974” is among the numerous paintings and drawings of Helga Testorf by Andrew Wyeth. The Helga works prompted questions about Wyeth’s relationship with his model.  (Adelson Galleries / Associated Press)

“Trodden Weed” (1951) is among Andrew Wyeth’s works in tempera.  (Brandywine River Museum / Associated Press)

“Refuge” (1985) is among Andrew Wyeth’s Helga works. The subject, Helga Testorf, did menial work in the artist’s household.  (Adelson Galleries / Associated Press)

“With Nell” (1973) is a watercolor and pencil on paper piece showing Helga with Andrew Wyeth’s dog.  (Adelson Galleries / Associated Press)

Andrew Wyeth with one of his Helga paintings at the National Gallery in Washington in 1987.  (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)

Andrew Wyeth and son Jamie in May 2004. Like his father and grandfather, the younger Wyeth is an artist.  (Chris Gardner / Associated Press)

Ruth Hirshey views Andrew Wyeth’s works at the Philadelphia Museum of Art in March 2006.  (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)

Andrew Wyeth after receiving the National Medal of Arts from President Bush during a ceremony at the White House in November 2007.  (Gerald Herbert / Associated Press)

A restaurant Andrew Wyeth is said to have frequented in Chadds Ford, Pa., bears a sign dedicated to the artist.  (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)