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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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Keywords
- Figure composition
: - Landscape
: - Object
: - book »
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PS 440 (P 1506; LNC 216)
The Prophet Swedenborg
1935–40
Pastel on cardboard
15 3/16 x 12 3/16 in. (38.5 x 31 cm) (sight size)
Signed with initiales lower right: Ph. S.
On the back: two handwritten labels: 19-1996 Study for the/ opening of the Seven Seals and Study for the/ opening of the Seven/ Seals N° 1506/ Mr. & Mrs. T.P. upper center and a metal plate: Mme Smit on the frame lower left.
On the back: Pencil studies of a Woman and Hands for Paris Nostalgia [PS 486].
Inventories
Inv. Berendina Hubscher, n.d. [ante 1952], s.n., private archives: no. [29] [P 1506]: p. [1], Pastels: Etude pour le Prophète Swedenborg.
Donation Berendina Hubscher, 20-06-1952, (attestation 03-09-1953), n.p., s.n. private archives: no. [P 1506]: A Monsieur le Révérend Théodore Pitcairn et Madame Maryke Urban, son épouse: Pastels, 6- Etude pour l'Ouverture des sept Sceaux.
Inv. Pitcairn, n.d. [c.1957], n.p., LNC archives: no. P 1506: Mr. and Mrs. Theodore Pitcairn (donation by Mrs. Smit), Study for : 'The Opening of the Seven Seals', Smit, Pastel., 18 x 15 [in.].
Inv. LNC, 1984, updated Oct. 1998, LNC archives: no. P 1506: p. 5 [1998: Art Gallery, Study for the opening of the Seven Seals], 23 x 26 1/2 [in.].
Provenance
Berendina Hubscher
Theodore & Marijke Pitcairn (donation from the above in 1952)
The Lord's New Church, Bryn Athyn, PA (donation from the above)
Exhibitions
No known exhibitions.
Literature & Primary Sources
No known published references.
Notes
Unlike the big panel of the same title [PS 485], where Swedenborg receives the divine inspiration, in this one the prophet presents his volume of the Arcanes célestes, as indicated by the title on the cover of the book which he is holding in his hands.
In Berendina Urban-Smit’s inventory (see above) the pastel is described as being a study which could lead to the conclusion that the artist planned to make a more important composition of this subject.
The titles given in the mentionned above inventories do not correspond iconographically to the theme of this pastel.
Record last updated June 9, 2017. Please note that the information on this and all pages is periodically reviewed and subject to change.
Citation: Narzt, Andreas and Castellani, Florence. "The Prophet Swedenborg, 1935–40 (PS 440)." In The Complete Works of Philippe Smit. www.philippesmit.com/catalogue/entry.php?id=440 (accessed on May 12, 2025).