The Complete Works of Philippe Smit
by Andreas Narzt and Florence Castellani
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Catalogue entry

Photo: Studio Sebert; © FdDPS

Keywords

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Classification: Painting »
Theme: landscape »
Medium: Oil »
Support: on canvas »
Year(s): 1913 »
PS 78
Haystacks
1913
Oil on canvas
19 11/16 x 28 13/16 in. (50 x 73 cm)
Signed lower left: Philippe Smit
On the back: a metal plate: Lottie Urban on the frame lower right.
Private collection, France
Inventories
Inv. Berendina Hubscher, n.d. [ante 1952], s.n., private archives: no. [05] ?, p. [1], Toiles: Meule à foin.
Provenance
Dr. Georges Luthereau (gift from the above)
Private collection, France (by descent)
Exhibitions
No known exhibitions.
Literature & Primary Sources
No known published references.
Notes
This painting dates from 1913, the year the artist was charmed by the subject during a walking tour around Auvers-sur-Oise, as the following letter testifies: "Je suis a Auvers-sur-Oise/ pour faire une etude de meule/ de paille; ce qui est tres/ ennuyeunt c’est qui fait nuit de/ bonheur. Mais c’est admirable/ la campagne – la nature est/ envellopé d’un brouillard d’une/ finesse qui n’ai prèsque pas a rendre enfin je fait tous mon/ possible. Mes [mais] dieu que c’est/ jolie. je ne sais pas quelle idée que/ j’ai eu pour aller a Auvers./ figure toi que le jour de l’an je/ m’enuirais tellement, que je suis/ parti flâner a la campagne/ et en flanent, j’ai vue une disposition/ de Meule admirable, alors c’est/ ca qui m’a décider a venir a/ Auvers sur Oise Voila Mon Cher René […] Je vais te faire/ un croquis [fig. 1] de mon étude […]" [sic] (I am in Auvers-sur-Oise to do a study of a straw stack, this is very difficult because night falls very early. But the countryside is wonderful, nature is wrapped in a light fog which is almost impossible to show but I do my best. God, it is beautiful. I do not know why I came here to Auvers. On New Year’s day I was so bored that I left for a stroll in the country and I saw a wonderful group of haystacks, this is what made me come to Auvers-sur-Oise, there you have it my dear René […] I will do a sketch (fig. 1) of my study for you ...) (Philippe Smit 1913). Two other sketches, which are in a private Dutch collection, are known to us from copies (fig. 2 and 3).

Additional images
FIG.1
The whereabouts of the study which corresponds to this sketch are unknown.
FIG. 2
FIG. 3
Record last updated January 30, 2019. Please note that the information on this and all pages is periodically reviewed and subject to change.
Citation: Narzt, Andreas and Castellani, Florence. "Haystacks, 1913 (PS 78)." The Complete Works of Philippe Smit. http://www.philippesmit.com/cr/catalogue/entry.php?id=78 (accessed on March 28, 2024).