Mary Russell Smith (American 1842 – 1878) Rabbits, Chicks and Berries

Oil on canvas, 11.5 x 14.5 inches/Signed lower left

Interested in this painting? Call 724-459-0612

sold Mary Russell Smith's Rabbits, Chick, and Berries Painting
  • Available for purchase
  • Professionally conserved and framed
  • Competitively Priced $17,500

Jerry & Joan - Thanks for your hospitality and helping us find this beautiful new piece for our home. Until next time...

Adrienne & Jon W.
Bedford Fine Art Gallery Shipping Options
  • Available for purchase
  • Professionally conserved and framed
  • Competitively Priced $17,500

Mary Russell Smith was born at Rockhill, near Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Her parents were the artists Russell Smith and Mary Priscilla Smith. As a child, she sketched from nature, drawing the animals and insects she saw while playing. Mary’s favorite pastime since early childhood was raising poultry, a hobby that led her to specialize in painting small, highly detailed compositions of chickens, for which now she is best known. Her father Russell Smith said of his daughter that “such habits early in life no doubt laid the foundation of that strong love of nature that was more a passion than a predilection, and remained the ruling principal of her life and art.”

In 1851, when Mary was nine, she accompanied her parents and her brother, artist Xanthus Smith, to Europe. At age 13 (1865), she accompanied her brother to Gettysburg, Pennsylvania and made sketches of the battlefield. It was about this time that she began painting in oil. In 1867 they visited New York City.

Regardless of these experiences, Mary remained steadfast to her depiction of chickens—art critic Henry Tuckerman stated that her paintings were “remarkable for grace, fidelity, and skill in delineation of the feathered tribe – her special branch.” She also painted rabbits, dogs, squirrels, opossums and birds.

In 1868 Mary exhibited two paintings at the National Academy of Design in New York City. She saw early success and Philadelphians were eager to purchase her paintings; however, her sales were not confined to Philadelphia—in 1870, she was working on “chicken” paintings for patrons in London. In 1876 she exhibited her painting “Cluck and Chickens” at the Centennial Exhibition in Philadelphia.

She never married and suffered with ill health throughout her life and lived and painted out of the Smith family home at Edgehill. In 1874 she suffered from measles and eye trouble which caused her to cease painting for a year. Mary strongly supported women artists in Philadelphia and, she designated that a portion of her painting sales go toward creating an annual award for women.

After her early death in 1878, her father, through the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts established the Mary Smith Prize to be awarded on the basis of originality of subject, beauty of design or drawing, color and effect, and execution. It was awarded each year until 1969.

High auction record for this artist: $25,740.

Call now to talk about your interest in this painting: 724-459-0612 Jerry Hawk, Bedford Fine Art GalleryORWe don't know which of your own thoughts will convince yourself that a great decision is going to be made. Only you can find yourself doing so because it naturally and easily makes sense and feels right for you. So please feel free to ask any questions that allow you to recognize that is happening.

We will only use your email to reply to you. We respect your privacy.
We will only use your email to reply to you. We respect your privacy.