promoting the works of Paul and Jane Bowles in the written, musical and theatre forms and working with caring attitude towards helping people in need in Morocco visited by people who like Paul Bowles from more than 119 countries This website online since May 1st 2000 Copyright Notice This page is published by The International Paul Bowles Society and has previously been published in our printed publications ©The International Paul Bowles Society, November 2000 This page is dedicated to the loving memory of James and Marguerite McBey 'The Artist's Wife Sick' James McBey, 1932 Biography of Marguerite McBey 1905 - 1999 Marguerite McBey was born Marguerite Loeb in Philadelphia on the 30th of April, 1905. She had been working as a bookbinder in New York until 1930 when she met and married James McBey, the renowned Scottish etcher, who from 1917 had been the official war artist for the British Army while stationed in the Middle East, many of which works are housed in the Imperial War Museum in London. James was 48 and Marguerite was 25 when they married. They travelled extensively together through Europe in 1931 and arrived in Tangier in 1932. Marguerite McBey, by James McBey, Tangier 1950 James McBey had visited Tangier previously in 1912. After briefly staying in the El Minzah hotel the McBeys bought a property on the 'Old Mountain' just outside of Tangier, which they called 'Jalobey', and which was a remnant of a property once owned by the Cherif of Wazan, who had built it for his British born wife, Emily Keene. They later moved into a house called 'El Foolk' (The Ark.) The McBeys travelled quite extensively between 1932 and 1939, visiting both Palestine and Egypt. During World War II, the McBeys were unable to leave the United States, and only returned to Morocco in May 1946, much to James' relief. He had constantly been unhappy being grounded in the US, and was very happy to be able to return to Tangier. He said, on their return 'M & I walked to Socco Chico by full moon - it is good to be back again. THANK GOD.' (©diary of James McBey, 1946.) . . . James and Marguerite were both very good friends with Jane and Paul Bowles, the author and composer. James McBey died in 1959 and was buried in Morocco on his own land at Cherifian Rocks and his grave bears the inscription: 'James McBey, Painter, Etcher, Born 23rd December 1883, Died 1st December 1959 ' and in Arabic 'He loved Morocco.' Marguerite continued to live very happily for almost forty years after the death of her husband, between England and Tangier and was also a long time friend of Paul Bowles, Joseph McPhillips and David Herbert, for over 40 years. Marguerite made several sketches of the Sahara during her visits there, and those from her 1970 visit were included in the Paul Bowles book 'Too Far from Home' (Peter Owen, 1994). The watercolours that you see on this page are just a few of the works of Marguerite McBey. Not only was Marguerite the wife of a very gifted artist, but she herself was a watercolour artist in her own right, and returned to painting after the death of her husband. She held eight exhibitions of her paintings in London, New York and Tangier, the first in 1970 and the last in 1995. 'Sundown Etna' (1966) by Marguerite McBey 'Coastal Scene (Pink Rocks)' by Marguerite McBey Some of the most important works of the McBeys' are housed in the 'McBey Collection' at The American Legation Museum, in the Medina of Tangier, Morocco and this collection is of more than 70 different works, of their own and other artists all donated by Marguerite in 1979 and all very beautiful. Many of their works are also displayed at the Aberdeen Art Gallery in Scotland, which holds the largest collection of their works. Marguerite was active in ensuring a permanent home for James McBey's works with both the Aberdeen Art Gallery and the American Legation Museum. Amongst Marguerite's friends in later life were Joe McPhillips, Nancy Eastman and HRH The Princess Lalla Fatima Zohra. Marguerite died in London on 21st October, 1999. A Memorial Service was held at The American Legation Museum in Tangier in May 2000. Over here at the International Paul Bowles Society, we love Marguerite McBey, and are great admirers of her, both as a wonderful, happy and caring person and also for her marvellous watercolour works. God bless you, Marguerite. Biography of Marguerite McBey Edited by Josie Farmer at The International Paul Bowles Society November 2000 All art on this page is ©The Estate of Marguerite McBey and ©The Aberdeen Art Gallery Many thanks to the above for their kindness and assistance in the making of this page Home Promoting to the life and work of Paul and Jane Bowles ©The International Paul Bowles Society, 2000