Skip to main content
Image Not Available for Interview between Marguerite McBey and Phyllis Pearsall (Notes and Letters Relating to Autobiography)
Interview between Marguerite McBey and Phyllis Pearsall (Notes and Letters Relating to Autobiography)
Image Not Available for Interview between Marguerite McBey and Phyllis Pearsall (Notes and Letters Relating to Autobiography)

Interview between Marguerite McBey and Phyllis Pearsall (Notes and Letters Relating to Autobiography)

Source (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, 1905 - 1999)
Associated (Newburgh, Scotland, 1883 - 1959)
Date1968
Object NameDocument
Mediumpaper
ClassificationsMcBey
Dimensions25.2 x 10cm
AcquisitionPresented in 1988 by Mrs Marguerite McBey.
Copyright© Aberdeen City Council (McBey Collection)
LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub
Object numberABDAG008368.52
Keywords
About MeInterview between Marguerite McBey and Phyllis Pearsall, dated 16 May 1968. Two copies. Marguerite discusses James McBey's concerns regarding Eileen Arbuthnot Robertson (Billy Turner)'s illness, Clara Watts Dunton's party, and the pre-Raphaelite paintings bequeathed to her upon her husband's death. She also delves into McBey's personality - the idea of him as a "self-punisher", potentially in light of his Calvinist background, and his eagerness to retain his current wealth (and not be as deprived as he was as a child), as well as his love of wrestling and bullfights. Marguerite suggests a leitmotif running throughout, drawing from McBey's illegitimacy.

This object is part of an archive that belonged to Marguerite McBey. As a result of her generosity, Aberdeen Art Gallery holds the largest archive of James McBey's work, including prints, drawings, sketchbooks, oil paintings and memorabilia such as this document.