Marjorie Phillips

Early life and education

She was born Marjorie Acker in Bourbon, Indiana. She was raised in Ossining, New York. Phillips started drawing as a child. Her uncles were Reynolds Beal and Gifford Beal. Both men noticed Phillips artistic ability and suggested she pursue art as a career path. She began attending the Art Students League in 1915 and graduated in 1918.

Mid-life and career

Marjorie Phillips has the unmistakable style of the born painter. – Duncan Phillips

While visiting France in 1923, Phillips became interested in Impressionism. She found inspiration in the work of Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Paul Cézanne. She didn't only find inspiration in their work, but the couple began collecting their work. During that 1923 trip, they purchased Renoir's Luncheon of the Boating Party for $125,000. Duncan died in 1966. In total, the couple had collected over 2,500 works of art, many which were on display at the museum. After his death, Phillips, who served as Associate Director of the Phillips Collection, became Director.

Later life and legacy

In 1971 she curated a retrospective about Paul Cézanne and published the book, Duncan Phillips and His Collection. Phillips retired in 1972. Her son, Laughlin Phillips, became Director of the Phillips Collection. She died in 1985 of pulmonary failure. The Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library has a holding of archival materials of Phillips'. Bohemian Glass Vase, 1939, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Boston, Massachusetts