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

Catalogue entry

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Photo: Christopher Burke Studios, NY; © FdDPS
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Classification: Drawing
Theme: figurative
Medium: Charcoal
Support: On paper
Year: 1924
PS 252
Theodore Pitcairn
Alternate titles: Portret; Reverend Theodore Pitcairn
1924
Charcoal on paper
17 5/16 x 12 in. (44 x 30.5 cm) (sight size)
Neither signed, nor dated
Glencairn Museum, Bryn Athyn, PA
Provenance
Raymond Pitcairn (gift from the artist and Theodore Pitcairn)
Academy of the New Curch, Bryn Athyn, PA (gift from the above)
Glencairn Museum, Bryn Athyn, PA, Inv. 07.DR.0500 (since its opening in 1984)
Exhibitions
1988 Glencairn Museum
Glencairn Museum, Academy of the New Church, Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, New Light, Ten Artists Inspired by Emanuel Swedenborg, January 30–March 13, 1988, no. 9, as Reverend Theodore Pitcairn, c. 1925, charcoal, 19" x 15," Glencairn Museum.
1993 Glencairn Museum
Glencairn Museum, Academy of the New Church, Bryn Athyn, Pennsylvania, Philippe Smit (1886-1948): An exhibition in honor of Glencairn's acquisition of the 'The Celestial Army', January 10–February 15, 1993, [7] G., as Theodore Pitcairn, Charcoal, ca. 1925, (07.DR.500).
Literature & Primary Sources
Niehaus 1924a
Niehaus, Kasper. "Schilderkunst, Philippe Smit." Maandblad voor beeldende kunsten Eerste Jaargang, n°11 (11/1924), ill. p. 324, as Portret.
Niehaus 1924b
Niehaus, Kasper. "Nieuwe Werken van Philippe Smit." De Telegraaf (Amsterdam), 14-12-1924, p. 9 ("… In Amerika teckende hij nog een bezield mansportret …").
De Sumatra Post 1927
"Geestelijk Leven: […] Swedenborg's openbaringen." De Sumatra Post (Medan), 22-03-1927, p. 14, ..". Een portret van ds. Theodore Pitcairn ..."
Niehaus 1955
Niehaus, Kasper. Philippe Smit, unkown genius. Revised and edited by Marjorie Bell. Typescript, 1955, p. 19 ("... The authors portrait, also drawn by Philippe Smit, forms the frontispiece.
Janssen 2015
Janssen, Guus. "Philippe Smit – Nederlandse kunstschilder die geïnspireerd werd door Swedenborg." Swedenborgiana (La Haye) Editie 91 (09/2015), p. 12, ill. 2, as Reverend Theodore Pitcairn.
Notes

This drawing, executed during his stay in America in 1924, is a study for the large portrait of The Reverend Theodore Pitcairn [PS 251] and for the one of Theodore Pitcairn Seated in a Red Armchair [PS 253], was given to Raymond Pitcairn, the eldest brother of Theodore. In a letter1 sent to the artist Raymond shows an interest in the results of this work and thanks Philippe Smit for this thoughtfulness: "[...] Mrs. Pitcairn and I are keenly interested in the results of your portrait of Theo, which I hope will be in your best style and I trust that we shall see at least a photograph of it in the near future. [...] and thanks for the charcoal drawing of my brother which you made. I think he told you that I had not understood that it was intended as a personal gift for me. As this is the desire of both you and my brother, I desire to thank you, as I am indeed very glad to have it." This drawing also decorates the frontispiece of Het boek verzegeld met zeven zegelen (The Book Sealed with Seven Seals) written by the sitter himself in 1926 (fig. 1).

1. Raymond Pitcairn, copy of a TLS to Philippe Smit, 19th September 1924 (Glencairn archives).

Additional images
FIG. 1 Frontispiece and title page: Theodore Pitcairn: Het boek verzegeld met zeven zegelen, 's-Gravenhage: Swedenborg Genootschap, 1926.
FIG. 1
Frontispiece and title page: Theodore Pitcairn: Het boek verzegeld met zeven zegelen, 's-Gravenhage: Swedenborg Genootschap, 1926.
Record last updated May 13, 2017. Please note that the information on this and all pages is periodically reviewed and subject to change.
Citation: Narzt, Andreas and Castellani, Florence. "Theodore Pitcairn, 1924 (PS 252)." In The Complete Works of Philippe Smit. www.philippesmit.com/catalogue/entry.php?id=252 (accessed on May 10, 2025).