Alternate titles: Dans le Parc; Madame P. sur un banc dans le parc; Marijke Pitcairn in the Park; Mrs. Pitcairn (on bench in garden); Portret mevr. Pitcairn; Portret van Mevrouw Pitcairn in het park

1927

Pastel on cardboard

50 3/8 x 58 5/16 in. (128 x 148 cm) (sight size)

Signed lower right: Philippe Smit

On the back: exhibition label Philadelphia on the protective backing panel near upper center.

Heather Reynolds, USA

Inventories

Inv. Les Pleignes, P. Damidot, 1938, LNC archives: no. P 148: p. [1], grand salon, Important pastel par Philippe Smit./ Portrait de Madame Pitcairn, en robe rose, assise sur un banc; fond de parc. 9.000 [FRF].

Inv. Pitcairn, n.d. [c.1957], n.p., LNC archives: no. P 148 F: Rev. Theodore Pitcairn, Maryke on Bench in Park, Smit, Pastel, 55 1/4 x 58 1/4 [in.].

Provenance

Theodore Pitcairn

Deana (Diene) Pitcairn-Duncan (by descent)

John Daniel Mitchell (on loan 2013-2024)

Heather Reynolds (by descent in 2021)

Exhibitions

1948 Maurs

Galerie Pierre Maurs, Paris, Peinture et Pastels de Philippe Smit, February 04, 1948, no. 84, as Dans le Parc, 1927 (CP).

1960 Philadelphia

Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, Collection of the Rev. and Mrs. Theodore Pitcairn, June 17–September 15, 1960, no. 31, Pastel, 55 1/2 x 58 1/2 [in.], 1928, Mrs. Pitcairn (on bench in garden), 11-1960-31 (title and n° on the exhibition label).

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. 12, as Marijke Pitcairn in the Park, 1932, oil [sic], 55" x 58," lent by Mr. and Mrs. Douglas Cooper.

Literature & Primary Sources

Massé 1920–1935

Massé, René. Journal. 1920-21, 1924, 1929-31, 1933-1935, 10-11-1929, p [9]; 13-12-1931, p. [18 & 19]); 02-04-1933, p. [22]; 05-11-1933, p. [25] ("… portrait de Maryke …").

Philippe Smit 1928a

Philippe Smit. ALS to Kasper Niehaus. Thoury-Férottes, 18 January 1928.

Niehaus 1933a

Niehaus, Kasper. "Te weinig geëerd shilder: De beteekenis van Philippe Smit." De Telegraaf (Amsterdam), 27-01-1933, p. 7 & ill. in b/w, as Portret van Mevrouw Pitcairn in het park.

Niehaus 1937

Niehaus, Kasper. "Philippe Smit." Elsevier's Geïllustreerd Maandschrift Jaargang 47, n° 93 (1937 januari-juli), p. 238, pl. XLVI, as Portret mevr. Pitcairn, Pastel 1928.

Niehaus 1955

Niehaus, Kasper. Philippe Smit, unkown genius. Revised and edited by Marjorie Bell. Typescript, 1955, p. 13 & 26 ("... An aftermath of his visit [to.

Notes
"[…] hélas je n’ai pas/ beaucoup travailler. J’ai fait en Amerique un portrait de fillette/ dont hélas je n’ai pas encore de foto. des Fleurs. copie de la merveilleuse/ statue de bois du XII, que j’avais dans mon atelier et que/ je considère comme une des merveille de la sculpture de/ ces époques, et pour la naissance de la petite Miriam j’ai faite/ un Ange portant des fleurs, pastel, et quelques dessin et ici en France/ nous sommes dans un très jolies petit village, j’ai fait un pastel/ de la petite Eglise Romane, qui a une poësie la contré[e] est très/ belle j’espère avoir le plaisir de te voir ici, et un grand/ portrait de Madame Pitcairn dans le parc. […]" [sic] (… alas I have not worked much. I have made in America a portrait of a little girl, of which, alas, I have not yet a photo, flowers, a copy of a marvellous 12th century wooden statue, which I had in my studio and which I consider to be one of the marvels of the sculpture of these periods, and for little Miriam’s birth I have made an angel holding flowers, pastel, and some drawings, and here in France we are in a very pretty little village, I have made a pastel of the small Romanesque church, which is poetic, the region is very beautiful, I hope to have the pleasure of seeing you here, and a large portrait of Mrs. Pitcairn in the park. …) (Philippe Smit 1928a)

"[…] Arrivée au Château de 'la Motte' […] Les Œuvres de Philippe:/ [...] - Une très belle œuvre, c’est le portrait de Maryke au pastel,/ assise sur un banc de jardin peint en vert, un grand/ chapeau, de belles dentelles, une robe rose aux gammes/ extraordinaires, un bouquet négligemment jeté sur le/ banc, des arbres dans le fond, médiation, richesse/ et distinction – c’est énorme pastel est une œuvre/ remarquable. […]" (… Arrival at Château La Motte. … The works by Philippe: … - A very beautiful work is the portrait of Marijke in pastel, sitting on a garden bench painted in green, a large hat, beautiful laces, a dress with an extraordinary range of pink, a bouquet tossed carelessly on the bench, trees in the background, meditation, wealth and distinction. This huge pastel is a remarkable work. …) (Massé, 10 November 1929, p. [9])
"[…] Philippe, Loty, l’institutrice et moi partons en auto/ 'Packar[d]' au Château 'Les Pleignes' propriété de /Maryke et Théo Pitcairn. […] Intérieur aux grandes pièces, meubles Renaissance./ Dans le salon se trouve le portrait au pastel de/ Maryke en robe rose, déjà vu dans l’atelier de Philippe. […]" (… Philippe, Loty, the teacher and I leave in the 'Packard' for chateau Les Pleignes, the property of Maryke and Theo Pitcairn. Interior with large rooms, Renaissance furniture. In the living room is the pastel portrait of Maryke in a pink dress, already seen in Philippe’s studio. …) (Massé, 13 December 1931, p. [18 & 19])
"[…] Promenade en auto, Philippe, Loty et moi (François conduit)/ au Château 'Les Pleignes' par des petites route./ Visite du Château, à l’intérieur, tous les meubles sont/ recouverts – Je revois avec plaisir, le grand pastel (portrait/ de Maryke en robe rose[)], le dessin de la figure et des mains. […]" (… Car ride, Philippe, Lotty and me (François is driving), to chateau "Les Pleignes" via small roads. Visit of the Chateau, inside all the furniture is covered – I see again with pleasure, the large pastel (portrait of Marijke in a pink dress), the drawing of the face and hands. …) (Massé, 2 April 1933, p. [22])
"[…] L’après-midi nous allons au Château 'Les Pleignes'/ Vu le portrait de Maryke, pastel qui s’abime à l’humidité/ le donnera à Havard [encadreur] pour le passer aux vapeurs de formol. […]" (... In the afternoon we go to Chateau Les Pleignes, Saw Marijke’s portrait, the pastel which is being damaged by the humidity, will give it to Havard [framer] to spray it with formol. …) (Massé, 5 November 1933, p. [25])

See biographical note on Marijke Pitcairn.

Record last updated November 11, 2024. Please note that the information on this and all pages is periodically reviewed and subject to change.
Citation: Narzt, Andreas and Castellani, Florence. "Marijke in a Pink Dress, 1927 (PS 290)." In The Complete Works of Philippe Smit. www.philippesmit.com/catalogue/entry.php?id=290 (accessed on May 9, 2025).

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