Data Source

Smithsonian American Art Museum

Luce Center Label

The shiny surface of the piano, the luminescent fabric of the woman’s dress, and the image of fingers stroking ivory keys conjures a variety of textures and sounds. Theodore Robinson painted this scene of a favorite model playing a piano in the Paris apartment of his wealthy friend “Archie” Chanler. Robinson was in love with Marie but never married her. The two spent a great deal of time together in Giverny, where their relationship sparked much gossip among American tourists staying at the elegant Hôtel Baudy. One lodger wrote to her friend the Boston painter Philip Leslie Hale: “By the way, dear, it looks very strange but Mr. Robinson has a model down here who has a little daughter . . . Everyone says that . . . the little girl is the daughter of Mr. Robinson [and] the child looks very like him.” (Johnston, In Monet’s Light: Theodore Robinson at Giverny, 2004)

Artist

Theodore Robinson, born Irasburg, VT 1852-died New York City 1896

Date

1887

Credit Line

Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Gellatly

Medium

oil on canvas

Dimensions

16 1/2 x 25 1/4 in. (41.8 x 64.2 cm.)

Type

Painting

Topic

Performing arts\music\piano

Figure female\full length

Object\flower

Architecture Interior\domestic\living room

See more items in

Smithsonian American Art Museum Collection

Department

Painting and Sculpture

Object number

1929.6.90