Size: F10, 55cm × 36cm, 22” x 18”
Media: Brush, Oil paint on Canvas
Date: Completed January 25, 1977
Where: Painted at Fayence, France
Signature: “christine benson 1976”
Currently: Pelhate household
Nathalie: Nathalie Pelhate was the daughter of Christine’s local doctor. The painting was done as payment for medical visits and a series of cortisone injections that Christine needed to overcome a serious injury to her right wrist. The recovery took several months and forced her to paint a series of canvases with her non-dominant left hand.
From the diary we learn the painting was completed over several months, with the initial plan being for 6 year old Nathalie to come every Wednesday for 4 weeks. After a slightly rough start, Christine was able to draw on her parenting experience to get the young child to cooperate.
Diary Entries
| October 13, 1976 | Work: Nathalie Pelhate 3:00 PM (6 years old). First lunch then cleaned studio windows and went to wait outside for Mme. Pelhate. Hopeless start to the sitting Nathalie wouldn’t even lift her head, let alone cooperate! Better after her mother left – we talked and she had lemonade. I drew the face in about 4 times – but Mme said it was ‘Bien Nathalie’ when I’d finished. |
| October 20, 1976 | Work: Pelhate 3:00 PM – NO! A whole day of A’s painting and no Nathalie! |
| October 27, 1976 | Nathalie? No. Muddled to-day – because of not knowing if it would be bright enough to paint Nathalie or not. Couldn’t settle to anything so decided to phone from PO and found out Mme Pelhate couldn’t come anyway because the Dr’s secretary was ill. |
| November 17, 1976 | Work: 2½hrs Nathalie. Mme Pelhate & Nathalie arrived at 1:30 PM and I worked with latter alone until 4:00 PM – was v. pleased – painted in face completely except eyes. She was v. good – I gave her a brush and china palette that she said she needed. She’s v. naughty as soon as her mother comes! |
| November 24, 1976 | Natalie 3rd sitting. Mme Pelhate & Nathalie arrived around 1:40 PM and she went to Seillians & came back at 4:0. I painted the eyes – came off first go. The little girl was delighted that they followed her from the painting and later so was her mother. Then the hair – a lot of trouble with that because of sun on canvas and impossible working conditions – but Mme P. was delighted and said that it was definitely Nathalie – seemed quite thrilled. N. was really v. good in spite of getting hungry – thirsty and cold in the thin dress. She had done some paintings for me. |
| December 1, 1976 | Nathalie – No show. 8th Week. Early message from Mme Pelhate again no sitting with Nathalie only three times now out of 8 weeks! But the weather report of storms was bad, so was the light. |
| December 8, 1976 | Work: 2½hrs Nathalie. Only time for a quick cheese sandwich before Nathalie & Mme Pelhate arrived. Marvelous afternoon’s work – drew in from scratch hands and arms and then completely finished painting them! Hard on Nathalie but we had a lot of giggles anyway – she is fascinated with the prism. Mme P. was so delighted – she’s going to get buttons made for my lounge cushions – also said Dr. P. will be happy to see my wrist again anytime. |
| January 20, 1977 | Started working on Nathalie’s dress but it did seem to be an uphill battle to get going – odd small things being difficult – the easel and brushes and butterfly nuts et cetera plus thinking I’ve forgotten how to paint or maybe just not in the mood. Did some work – in spite of coughing. Sybille then Jean came over at pastis time. She is all for going in for the 13th Grand Prix of the Cote d’Azure – it might be fun. What to send? I do enjoy their company – they are fun people. Had bright idea why not a painting of Sybille? But what symbolism? |
| January 22, 1977 | Work: 1½hrs bad. Did some really bad painting on the background of the Nathalie portrait – gray – quite hopeless – can’t think why it is such a chore. Maybe because other paintings are on my mind. |
| January 23, 1977 | Black skies yet again. Pointless to think of oil painting – maybe that’s why the drab colors of yesterday. Studied watercolor book instead and then worked out color sketches for the painting of Sybille. |
| January 24, 1977 | Much better! Finally did some decent painting and pulled the background round. More delicate pinks and viridian – redid hair which came alive – started on lace and complicated dress. |
| January 25, 1977 | Work: Nathalie. Settled down to flower & design on Nathalie’s dress – looked pretty when I finished but it and the lace took time. Made slight alterations on face and arms. Finished, I hope, painting in PM. |
| January month end page | Nathalie Pelhate: F10, 55cm × 36cm, 22” x 18” (4 sittings) 18hrs. |
| February 3, 1977 | Work: 1½hrs Sybille 4th sitting. 1½hrs background N. Things went wrong….. Then altered background on Nathalie’s portrait and several touches on face. |
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