Lydia Seated on a Porch, Crocheting (Primary Title)
Mary Cassatt, American, 1844 - 1926 (Artist)
This painting reflects the influence of French impressionism on Cassatt’s subject matter and technique. The sitter, Cassatt’s sister Lydia, is shown outdoors, rendered in loose strokes and washes of pure color that affect a sense of spontaneity. Pressed to the left edge of the canvas, she is partially obscured by the oblique angle of the blue terrace bench. The unconventional placement reinforces a diagonal composition that leads from the lower left to the upper right of the image. The angle is reiterated in the faint lines of the wrought-iron fence separating the terrace from the garden. The scene dates to the summer of 1882 when the artist’s family rented a house outside Paris in Marly-le-Roi.
Signed at lower left: "Mary Cassatt"
Donated by James W. McGlothlin as part of the James W. and Frances Gibson McGlothlin Collection of American Art
"Mary Cassatt at Work", Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA, May 18 - September 8, 2024; Fine Art Museums of San Francisco, Legion of Honor, San Francisco, CA, October 5, 2024 - January 26, 2025
"Whistler to Cassatt: American Painters and France", Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO, November 14, 2021 - March 13, 2022; VMFA, April 16 - July 31, 2022
"America's Impressionism: Echoes of a Revolution", Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Memphis, TN, January 23 - May 9, 2021
"Degas/Cassatt," National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. (11 May-5 October, 2014).
"American Art from the McGlothlin Collection" Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (1 May - 18 July 2010).
"Capturing Beauty: American Impressionist & Realist Paintings from the McGlothlin Collection," Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (19 May-18 September, 2005).
"Mary Cassatt: Modern Woman," Art Institute of Chicago, (10 October, 1998-10 January, 1999); Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, (6 February, 1999-10 May,1999); National Gallery of Art, (5 June, 1999 - 6 September, 1999).
"Mary Cassatt," National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. (September-November 1970) no. 24.
"American Art in St. Louis," City Art Museum of St. Louis (October-November 1969) as La Serre.
"The Paintings of Mary Cassatt," M. Knoedler & Co., New York, NY (February 1966) no. 9 as La Serre.
"A Galaxy of Treasures from St. Louis Collections," City Art Museum of St. Louis (January-February 1961).
"The French Impressionists," Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach, FL (February-March 1946) no. 4.
"The Opening Exhibition in Honor of James Philip and Julia Emma Gray," Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA (October-November 1933) no. 100.
"Exposition de Tableaux et Pastels pour Mary Cassatt," Galerie Durand-Ruel, Paris (March 1924) no. 31.
"Whistler to Cassatt: American Painters and France", Denver Art Museum, Denver, CO, November 14, 2021 - March 13, 2022; VMFA, April 16 - July 31, 2022
"America's Impressionism: Echoes of a Revolution", Dixon Gallery & Gardens, Memphis, TN, January 23 - May 9, 2021
"Degas/Cassatt," National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. (11 May-5 October, 2014).
"American Art from the McGlothlin Collection" Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (1 May - 18 July 2010).
"Capturing Beauty: American Impressionist & Realist Paintings from the McGlothlin Collection," Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (19 May-18 September, 2005).
"Mary Cassatt: Modern Woman," Art Institute of Chicago, (10 October, 1998-10 January, 1999); Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, (6 February, 1999-10 May,1999); National Gallery of Art, (5 June, 1999 - 6 September, 1999).
"Mary Cassatt," National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C. (September-November 1970) no. 24.
"American Art in St. Louis," City Art Museum of St. Louis (October-November 1969) as La Serre.
"The Paintings of Mary Cassatt," M. Knoedler & Co., New York, NY (February 1966) no. 9 as La Serre.
"A Galaxy of Treasures from St. Louis Collections," City Art Museum of St. Louis (January-February 1961).
"The French Impressionists," Society of the Four Arts, Palm Beach, FL (February-March 1946) no. 4.
"The Opening Exhibition in Honor of James Philip and Julia Emma Gray," Museum of Fine Arts, Springfield, MA (October-November 1933) no. 100.
"Exposition de Tableaux et Pastels pour Mary Cassatt," Galerie Durand-Ruel, Paris (March 1924) no. 31.
Some object records are not complete and do not reflect VMFA's full and current knowledge. VMFA makes routine updates as records are reviewed and enhanced.