When I think of Sargent the first thing that springs to mind are his wonderful portraits. Of course, he did much more. He's a master of atmosphere.
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| John Singer Sargent, Theodore Roosevelt, 1903 |
The famous expatriate artist arrived in America in January 1903 and soon received a letter from Roosevelt inviting him to live in the White House during the month of February to work on the portrait....
Together [Sargent and Roosevelt] toured the White House while Sargent looked for proper light and a good pose.... As Roosevelt led the way upstairs, so the story goes, he said, "The trouble with you Sargent, is that you don't know what you want." "No," replied the artist, "the trouble, Mr. President, is that you don't know what a pose means." Roosevelt turned sharply back, grasped the newel-post and snapped, "Don't I!" "Don't move an inch. You've got it now," responded Sargent.
Notes from Kloss, William, et al.
Art in the White House: A Nation's Pride.
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| Repose, John Singer Sargent |
The woman in Repose is Sargent's niece, Rose–Marie Ormond. In keeping with his newfound preference for informal figure studies, Sargent did not create a traditional portrait; rather, he depicted Rose–Marie as a languid, anonymous figure absorbed in poetic reverie. The reclining woman, casually posed in an atmosphere of elegiac calm and consummate luxury, seems the epitome of nonchalance—the painting's original title. Sargent seems to have been documenting the end of an era, for the lingering aura of fin–de–siècle gentility and elegant indulgence conveyed in Repose would soon be shattered by massive political and social upheaval in the early 20th century.
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| El Jaleo, John Singer Sargent Isabella Gardner Museum |
I found this because I was reading about an exhibition about Sargent and Spain. Isn't it great? It's about 12 feet wide. Imagine the impact that would have on a room. Read more here.
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| Dorothy, John Singer Sargeant Dallas Museum of Art |
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| Turkey in a Courtyard by John Singer Sargent, circa 1879-1880 via J.R.'s Art Place |
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| Corner of the Church of San Stae, Venice; John Singer Sargent |
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| John Singer Sargent, Two Girls Fishing, detail, 1912 via Arts Everyday Living |
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| John Singer Sargent, An Out-of-Doors Study, 1889, depicting Paul César Helleu sketching with his wife Alice Guérin |
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John Singer Sargent (1856–1925); Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose via Wikipedia |
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| Giovanni Boldini, Portrait of John Singer Sargent circa 1890 via Wikipedia |
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| John Singer Sargent, An Artist in His Studio, 1904 |
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