The Blue Organdy (also known as Girl Reading) was likely painted around 1902, during a period in Murphy’s career when figures comprised a significant portion of his work and his subdued palette and soft brushwork reflected the influence of Whistler. However, as the author of a Brush and Pencil article noted in 1899, Murphy had discovered his own artistic identity: “Though now and then he is said to be strongly influenced by Whistler (he says himself that the study of Whistler did more to bring out in him what he has than any other thing), yet most critics and artists are ready to give him credit for individuality. His work is both strong and tender. He paints by choice in a low key, with grateful harmonies, and the effect is restful to the spirit.”  Murphy exhibited The Blue Organdy in at least seven exhibitions between 1902 and 1908, including a solo show of his oils and watercolors held at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1906. He also crafted the wonderful frame, which complements the elegance of the subject matter and serves as one of the earliest surviving examples of his frame-making talents.

More information about this painting...

Provenance:

Headley’s Auction, Virginia

To private collection, New Braunfels, Texas, May 2024 to present

Inscription:

(verso of board in pencil) Hermann Dudley Murphy / Boston--[Ma]ss / The Blue Organdy 125 Guineas (125 crossed out)

Labels:

1. Department of Art / Louisiana Purchase Exposition / St. Louis, 1904 / Artist: Hermann Dudley Murphy / Artist’s Address: Copley Hall, Boston / Subject: The Blue Organdy / Price, if for sale: 100 (crossed out) / Insurance Value: [150 or 100] (crossed out) / Owner: Artist / Owner’s Address: (blank) / For examination by International Jury of Award: No Yes / To be returned to: Artist
2. (incomplete label, torn) Water Color Club / Exhibition / Girl Reading / Hermann Dudley Murphy
3. (incomplete label, torn; most likely for the New York Water Color Club) Artist: Hermann Dudley Murphy / Address: Copley Hall Boston / Girl Reading
4. Worcester Art Museum / Title: The Blue Organdy / Artist: Hermann Dudley Murphy / Owner: “ / Return to: “ / [price (?), torn, and only end is legible]-0.°° / (handwritten in pencil lower right) 150.00
5. Small portion of label lower center, of which only Organdy and Boston are legible
6. W. S. Budworth & Son / Packers and Shippers / 424 West 52nd Street, / New York
7. (stamp on frame) d.9597

Exhibitions:

1. (possibly) Water Color Club, Fifteenth Annual Exhibition at the Boston Art Club, Boston, Massachusetts, February 28 – March 15, 1902, as no. 71 Girl Reading
2. Thirteenth Annual Exhibition of the New York Water Color Club, American Fine Arts Society, New York, New York, November  22 – December 14, 1902, as no. 327 Girl Reading
3. Louisiana Purchase Exposition, St. Louis, Missouri, April – December, 1904, Department of Fine Arts, as no. 1195 The Blue Organdy, pastel (Note: the Murphy frame was also listed in the Applied Arts section, as no. 529 Carved frame, gilded)
4. Water Colors, Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, Massachusetts, February 16 – March 4, 1906, as no. 40 The Blue Organdy
5. Exhibition of Paintings of Hermann Dudley Murphy, Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, December 6 – 26, 1906, as no. 31 The Blue Organdy
6. Fourteenth Annual Exhibition of American Art, Cincinnati Museum, Cincinnati, Ohio, May 18 – July 17, 1907, as no. 103 The Blue Organdy
7. Fifth Annual Exhibition of the Philadelphia Water Color Club, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 2 – 29, 1907, as no. 34 The Blue Organdy
8. Water Color Club, Twenty-first Annual Exhibition at the Boston Art Club, Boston, Massachusetts, February 28 – March 14, 1908, as no. 71 The Blue Organdy