Theodore Robinson
In the Grove
1882-1892
Physical Qualities
Oil on canvas, Sight: 31 x 25 in. (78.7 x 63.5 cm) Framed: 37 7/8 x 31 7/8 x 3 5/8 in. (96.2 x 81 x 9.2 cm)
Credit Line
The Cone Collection, formed by Dr. Claribel Cone and Miss Etta Cone of Baltimore, Maryland
Object Number
1950.291
While both Claude Monet and Theodore Robinson denied any master-pupil relationship, Robinson’s devotion to the French impressionist is clear not only on canvas but also in print. In The Century Magazine (September 1892), Robinson wrote, “To my mind no one has yet painted out of doors quite so truly.” In the Grove is one of several known studies for Robinson’s salon painting La Vachère [#2, to the left]. A grid pattern, visible in thinly painted areas, corresponds to similar demarcations in the large completed version. The model may be Marie Trognon, whom the artist met in Giverny in 1887.
Etta Cone selected this painting at Robinson’s estate sale in 1898. Her brother Moses Cone provided the funds for the purchase. It was one of the first impressionist canvases to enter a Baltimore collection.
The Baltimore Museum of Art by bequest, 1949; Etta Cone, Baltimore, by purchase, March 24, 1898; Theodore Robinson estate sale, American Art Galleries, New York
American Art Association, New York, "Paintings and Studies by the Late Theodore Robinson," March 24, 1898, no. 37.
The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Inaugural Exhibition," February 22, 1923 - April 1, 1923, no. 231. (Exhibited as "Girl in a Field")
Adelyn D. Breeskin, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Cone Collection of Modern Paintings and Sculpture," April 1, 1930 - December 1, 1930, no. 63a. (Exhibited as "Peasant Girl)
Adelyn D. Breeskin, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Exhibition of Baltimore Owned Art Treasures," January 17, 1933 - March 27, 1933, no. 48. (Exhibited as "Peasant Girl")
The Baltimore Museum of Art, "A Survey of American Painting," January 10, 1934 - February 28, 1934, no. 26. (Exhibited as "Peasant Girl")
John I. H. Baur, The Brooklyn Museum of Art, "Theodore Robinson 1852-1896," November 13, 1946 - January 5, 1947, no. 108.
The Baltimore Museum of Art, "The Cone Collection," circulated to The Woman's College of the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, October 28, 1958 - November 24, 1958.
The American Academy of Arts and Letters, The National Institute of Arts and Letters, New York, "The Impressionist Mood in American Painting," January 16, 1959 - February 15, 1959, no. 66. (Exhibited as "In the Grove: Woman in Garden")
Kennedy Galleries, New York, "Theodore Robinson, American Impressionist, 1852-1896," November 7, 1966 - December 15, 1966.
Sona Johnston, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Theodore Robinson, 1852-1896," May 1, 1973 - June 10, 1973, no. 19; circulated to The Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts, July 12, 1973 - August 26, 1973; Worcester Art Museum, September 19, 1973 - October 28, 1973; Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, Nebraska, November 19, 1973 - December 23, 1973; Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, Utica, New York, January 20, 1974 - February 24, 1974.
Jane Harrison Cone, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Cone Collection from The Baltimore Museum of Art," circulated to Wildenstein and Company, New York, March 29, 1974 - May 4, 1974, no. 48.
Brenda Richardson, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Claude Monet: Impressionist Masterpieces from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston" October 13, 1991 - January 19, 1992.
Brenda Richardson, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Van Gogh to Matisse: Impressionist and Modern Masters from the Cone Collection of The Baltimore Museum of Art," circulated to The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston,November 21, 1993 - January 30, 1994.
Sona Johnston, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "In Monet's Light: Theodore Robinson at Giverny," October 17, 2004 - January 9, 2005, no. 42; circulated to The Phoenix Museum of Art, Phoenix, February 6, 2005 - May 8, 2005; The Wadsworth Atheneum, June 4, 2005 - September 4, 2005.
Katy Rothkopf, BMA, "Collecting Matisse and Modern Masters: The Cone Sisters of Baltimore," circulated to The Jewish Museum, New York, 6 May - 25 September 2011, Vancouver Art Gallery, 2 June-23 September 2012, Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, 3 November 2012 - 10 February 2013.
The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Inaugural Exhibition," February 22, 1923 - April 1, 1923, no. 231. (Exhibited as "Girl in a Field")
Adelyn D. Breeskin, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Cone Collection of Modern Paintings and Sculpture," April 1, 1930 - December 1, 1930, no. 63a. (Exhibited as "Peasant Girl)
Adelyn D. Breeskin, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Exhibition of Baltimore Owned Art Treasures," January 17, 1933 - March 27, 1933, no. 48. (Exhibited as "Peasant Girl")
The Baltimore Museum of Art, "A Survey of American Painting," January 10, 1934 - February 28, 1934, no. 26. (Exhibited as "Peasant Girl")
John I. H. Baur, The Brooklyn Museum of Art, "Theodore Robinson 1852-1896," November 13, 1946 - January 5, 1947, no. 108.
The Baltimore Museum of Art, "The Cone Collection," circulated to The Woman's College of the University of North Carolina, Greensboro, October 28, 1958 - November 24, 1958.
The American Academy of Arts and Letters, The National Institute of Arts and Letters, New York, "The Impressionist Mood in American Painting," January 16, 1959 - February 15, 1959, no. 66. (Exhibited as "In the Grove: Woman in Garden")
Kennedy Galleries, New York, "Theodore Robinson, American Impressionist, 1852-1896," November 7, 1966 - December 15, 1966.
Sona Johnston, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Theodore Robinson, 1852-1896," May 1, 1973 - June 10, 1973, no. 19; circulated to The Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts, July 12, 1973 - August 26, 1973; Worcester Art Museum, September 19, 1973 - October 28, 1973; Joslyn Art Museum, Omaha, Nebraska, November 19, 1973 - December 23, 1973; Munson-Williams-Proctor Institute, Utica, New York, January 20, 1974 - February 24, 1974.
Jane Harrison Cone, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Cone Collection from The Baltimore Museum of Art," circulated to Wildenstein and Company, New York, March 29, 1974 - May 4, 1974, no. 48.
Brenda Richardson, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Claude Monet: Impressionist Masterpieces from the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston" October 13, 1991 - January 19, 1992.
Brenda Richardson, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Van Gogh to Matisse: Impressionist and Modern Masters from the Cone Collection of The Baltimore Museum of Art," circulated to The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston,November 21, 1993 - January 30, 1994.
Sona Johnston, The Baltimore Museum of Art, "In Monet's Light: Theodore Robinson at Giverny," October 17, 2004 - January 9, 2005, no. 42; circulated to The Phoenix Museum of Art, Phoenix, February 6, 2005 - May 8, 2005; The Wadsworth Atheneum, June 4, 2005 - September 4, 2005.
Katy Rothkopf, BMA, "Collecting Matisse and Modern Masters: The Cone Sisters of Baltimore," circulated to The Jewish Museum, New York, 6 May - 25 September 2011, Vancouver Art Gallery, 2 June-23 September 2012, Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, 3 November 2012 - 10 February 2013.
"Paintings and Studies by the Late Theodore Robinson," New York: American Art Association, 1898, no. 37.
The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Inaugural Exhibition," Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1923, p. 42, no. 231. (Published as "Girl in a Field")
The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Cone Collection of Modern Paintings and Sculpture," Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1930, p. 6, no. 63a. (Published as "Peasant Girl ")
"Exhibition of Baltimore Owned Art Treasures," Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1933, p. 16, no. 48. (Published as "Peasant Girl")
"A Survey of American Painting," Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1934, p. 15, no. 26. (Published as "Peasant Girl")
Etta Cone, "The Cone Collection of Baltimore-Maryland," Baltimore: Etta Cone, 1934, p. 26, pl. 22, ill. (Published as "Girl in Woods")
R. J. McKinney, "Exhibition of Baltimore Owned Art Treasures," Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1933, p. 16, no. 48. (Published as "Peasant Girl")
John I. H. Baur, "Theodore Robinson, 1852-1896," Brooklyn: The Brooklyn Museum of Art, 1946, pp. 26, 65-66, no. 108.
George Boas, Adelyn Breeskin, and Gertrude Rosenthal, "Cone Collection: A Handbook with a Catalogue of Paintings and Sculpture," Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1955, p. 39, no. 110. (Published as "Woman in a Garden")
"The Impressionist Mood in American Painting," New York: The American Academy of Arts and Letters, The National Institute of Arts and Letters, 1959, no. 66. (Published as "In the Grove: Woman in Garden")
Barbara Pollack, "The Collectors: Dr. Claribel and Miss Etta Cone," Indianapolis: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, 1962, pp. 34, 215. (Published as "Girl in the Woods")
Kennedy Galleries, "Theodore Robinson: American Impressionist, 1852-1896," New York: Kennedy Galleries, 1966, p. 12.
George Boas, Adelyn Breeskin, and Gertrude Rosenthal, "Paintings, Sculpture and Drawings in the Cone Collection," Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1967, p. 68, no. 102.
Sona Johnston, "Theodore Robinson, 1852-1896," Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1973, pp. iv, 20, no. 19, ill.
The Baltimore Museum of Art, "Cone Collection from The Baltimore Museum of Art: A Benefit Exhibition at Wildenstein," Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1974, no. 48.
Sona K. Johnston, "American Paintings, 1750-1900," Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1983, pp. 137- 139, no. 117, ill.
Brenda Richardson, "Dr. Claribel & Miss Etta: The Cone Collection of The Baltimore Museum of Art," Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 1985, pp. 55, 167.
Patricia C. Johnson, "Two Sisters and Their Art," "The Houston Chronicle," November 21, 1993, pp.8- 9.
Susan Chadwick, "Sisters Collected Stunning Works of Impressionists," "The Houston Post," November 27, 1993, p. F-6.
Sona Johnston and Paul Hayes Tucker, "In Monet's Light: Theodore Robinson at Giverny," Baltimore: The Baltimore Museum of Art, 2004, p. 153, no. 42, ill.
Ellen B. Hirschland and Nancy Hirschland Ramage, "The Cone Sisters of Baltimore: Collecting at Full Tilt," Evanston, IL: Northwestern University Press, 2008, p. 38.
Karen Levitov, "Collecting Matisse and Modern Masters: The Cone Sisters of Baltimore," New York: The Jewish Museum, 2011, pp. 16, 27, 71, 77, pl. 1, ill.
Karen Rosenberg, "What They Loved and What They Bought," "The New York Times," May 6, 2011, p. C30.
Hilarie M. Sheets, "'My Two Baltimore Ladies,'" "ArtNews," May 2011, vol. 110, no. 5, p. 48.
Inscribed: Recto: There are no visible inscriptions on the recto. Verso: Top center, black oval stamp, "THEODORE ROBINSON" The painting has been wax lined and there are no other visible inscriptions on the verso. On reverse of canvas, Estate Sale Stamp (oval, Theodore Robinson/Sale/March 24, 1898)
On View at the BMA
