Chorley's will offer books, furniture, carpets, works of art and silver from the estate of John Singer Sargent’s grand-niece, Jemima Pitman (1930-2025). This sale offers a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire items from a family collection which have been passed down from John Singer Sargent.
“This is far more than just a collection of beautiful objects. The auction offers an intimate portrait of an extraordinary family whose influence reached far beyond the canvas"
Born in Florence to American parents, John Singer Sargent RA (1856-1925) spent most of his life in Europe where he was acclaimed for his portraits which captured the glamour of Belle Époque Europe and the ‘Golden Age’. Yet his legacy extended far beyond his own achievements. Members of the extended Sargent family were accomplished artists and discerning collectors in their own right, building a remarkable family collection that was passed down through generations.
Photographic Portrait of John Singer Sargent
Showing the artist painting en plein air in the Simplon Pass, Switzerland, circa 1910-11
Chorley’s Auctioneers will offer books, furniture, carpets, works of art and silver from the estate of John Singer Sargent’s grand-niece, Jemima Pitman (1930-2025). This sale offers a rare opportunity for collectors to acquire items from a family collection which have been passed down from John Singer Sargent to his niece Reine Pitman (née Ormond) and to her daughter Jemima. Featuring objects and works relating to John Singer Sargent and his artistic circle, the collection is not only an accumulation of artistic, literary and cultural history, but also an enduring legacy of the Ormond and Pitman families.
Vivien John (1915-1994) Jemima and Rose Pitman, signed pastel
one of a collection of works by Augustus John, Jane de Glehn, Vivien John and Mary Potter amongst others
Sargent had a strong connection to the Cotswolds. In the early 1880s Singer Sargent found inspiration in the picturesque village of Broadway, a vibrant hub for artists and craftsmen. Here he explored light, colour, and composition, culminating in his famous work Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose (1885–86), now in the Tate collection.
Ahead of the auction, on the 10th September, Chorley’s will host a talk together with the Broadway Museum on Sargent and the Cotswolds.
A 19th Century giltwood console table
as depicted in photographs of the Sargent's London studio at 31 Tite Street, Chelsea
One of a set of three rare famille verte moulded rounded oblong dishes, Kangxi period
Part of an important collection of Asian ceramics and works of art, reflecting John Singer Sargent's fascination with Japanese and Chinese art.
This collecting tradition passed to his grand-niece, Jemima Pitman
One of a collection of watercolours by Emily Sargent, John Singer Sargent’s sister and almost constant companion to him during his painting career.
The watercolours reveal an accomplished artist with a keen eye for colour and composition.
Latham (Charles) The Gardens of Italy. London: Country Life, 1905 | two volumes, signed 'John S. Sargent 31 Tite Street' to both volumes
part of a collection of books from John Singer Sargent’s collection, as well as signed volumes by Augustus John, John Piper and Rex Whistler from the collection of Sargent’s niece, Reine, and her husband Hugo Pitman (1982-1963) who were deeply cultured and much involved in the London art world both as patrons and collectors.
A 19th century ormolu and glazed striking travel clock
signed Imbert L'Aine [Jean-Gabriel Imbert (1735 – 1795) and the case engraved to back with 'Eug. Hazart, Paris' [Eugene Hazart (1838-1891)]
A Khotan rug East Turkestan
late 19th century
Werner Freundel, Director at Chorley’s Auctioneers, said: “This is far more than just a collection of beautiful objects. The auction offers an intimate portrait of an extraordinary family whose influence reached far beyond the canvas - from Singer Sargent's furnishings and books to Hugo Pitman's eye for Modern British art and Jemima Pitman's connections to the Beatles and Indian mysticism.”
“Emily Sargent’s work rarely appears at auction. She was a gifted artist, but her achievements were inevitably overshadowed by those of her brother at a time when the work of many women artists was dismissed as merely decorative. Recent auction successes acknowledge her talent and demonstrate that rediscovered female artists continue to perform strongly at auction, reinforcing their rightful place in the annals of art history.”
Jemima was the daughter of Reine Ormond (1897-1971), John Singer Sargent’s niece, a noted beauty and a talented artist who had studied at the Slade School of Art in London; her father Hugo Pitman (1982-1963) a successful stockbroker and director of Rowe & Pitman, an Olympic oarsman who won a silver medal at Stockholm in 1912, a trustee of the Tate, he also served on the board of the Contemporary Art Society and was a childhood friend of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. Their London home was The Queen’s House in Cheyne Walk, Chelsea, at one time the home of the Pre-Raphaelite painter Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
Jemima Pitman’s cousin, Richard Ormond described Jemima, ‘as a person of rare spiritual grace and humanity... and always fun to be with. For many years she had been a faithful follower of the Maharishi, as Transcendental Meditation and his teachings gave her purpose and peace of mind. She also helped him to set up a centre in Britain. She was proud of her art collection, to which she occasionally added new items, and was very conscious of her legacy. She was an ardent Sargent fan.’
Digital and printed catalogue available from 2nd September
