John Singer Sargent: Painting Friends

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John Singer Sargent

Introduction John Singer Sargent (January 12, 1856 – April 14, 1925) was an American artist, considered the “leading portrait painter of his generation” for his evocations of Edwardian era luxury. During his career, he created roughly 900 oil paintings and more than 2,000 watercolors, as well as countless sketches and charcoal drawings. His oeuvre documents worldwide travel, from Venice to the Tyrol, Corfu, the Middle East, Montana, Maine, and Florida.

Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose John Singer Sargent, 1885

His parents were American, but he was trained in Paris prior to moving to London. Sargent enjoyed international acclaim as a portrait painter, although not without controversy and some critical reservation; an early submission to the Paris Salon, his “Portrait of Madame X”, was intended to consolidate his position as a society painter, but it resulted in scandal instead. From the beginning his work was characterized by remarkable technical facility, particularly in his ability to draw with a brush, which in later years inspired admiration as well as criticism for a supposed superficiality. His commissioned works were consistent with the grand manner of portraiture, while his informal studies and landscape paintings displayed a familiarity with Impressionism. In later life Sargent expressed ambivalence about the restrictions of formal portrait work, and devoted much of his energy to mural painting and working en plein air. He lived most of his life in Europe.Before Sargent’s birth, his father, FitzWilliam (b. 1820 Gloucester, Massachusetts), was an eye surgeon at the Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia 1844–1854.

© 2015 Rizzoli International Publications. All Rights Reserved.

Introduction

5

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Š 2015 Rizzoli International Publications. All Rights Reserved. Introduction

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were hey red ed s this. of o sits gent he

were hey red ed s this. of o sits gent he

Š 2015 Rizzoli International Publications. All Rights Reserved.

ere y d d his.

sits ent

ere y d d his.

sits ent

Š 2015 Rizzoli International Publications. All Rights Reserved.

Š 2015 Rizzoli International Publications. All Rights Reserved.

were hey mired ated as this. of ho sits argent the

were hey mired ated as this. of ho sits argent the

Š 2015 Rizzoli International Publications. All Rights Reserved.

Henry James John Singer Sargent, 1913 Sargent first met Monet in 1876, but the two artists were closest ten years later. It was probably in 1885 that they painted together at Giverny, near Paris. Sargent admired the way that Monet worked out of doors, and imitated some of his subjects and methods in sketches such as this.

It is characteristic of Sargent to give a human view of Monet’s practice and of the patience of his wife, who sits behind him. When he settled in London in 1885 Sargent was initially viewed as avant-garde, but came to be the greatest society portraitist of his day.

Sargent first met Monet in 1876, but the two artists were closest ten years later. It was probably in 1885 that they painted together at Giverny, near Paris. Sargent admired the way that Monet worked out of doors, and imitated some of his subjects and methods in sketches such as this.

It is characteristic of Sargent to give a human view of Monet’s practice and of the patience of his wife, who sits behind him. When he settled in London in 1885 Sargent was initially viewed as avant-garde, but came to be the greatest society portraitist of his day.

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Š 2015 Rizzoli International Publications. All Rights Reserved.

John Singer Sargent

Š 2015 Rizzoli International Publications. All Rights Reserved.

Introduction

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