Now it’s hard to imagine life without a couple of new photos a day, with different emotions and postures. In the 19th century, John Singer Sargent could be safely considered the one who could capture the image of a person as a keepsake. Sargent was a famous portrait painter of American art and not everyone could afford to order a portrait in his performance. Being born in Italy, but Americans by his origin, he forever entered the history of world art as one of the most famous portrait painters of impressionism. His creative life began from an early age and has always been devoted to his beloved work. He received an art education in Paris and became an authoritative artist in the Salon. He received orders to create portraits of influential people of France, England, and America. The family always supported John Singer, and despite the rather frequent movements from one country to another, he continued to improve his talent. He invariably made oil and watercolor sketches during his travels, depicting places and people he liked.
The English crown was so admired by the American artist that Sargent was offered to become a British citizen, but he did not want to part with American citizenship. During his life, he visited many countries and was fluent in the languages of each of them. We can say the same about what he did with a brush in his hand. His portraits are magnificent.
In this portrait, Sargent painted the four daughters of his friend and American cosmopolitan and artist Edward Darley Boyt. Sargent was a master at subtly observing the emotional background of his models, and this picture is considered the most psychologically compelling among his other works. First, we see a girl playing in the center, but then looking at all the sisters, we seem to guess the hidden meaning of their connections.
The picture shows the moment of performance of the Spanish dance. The painting was made after a five-month journey through Spain and North America. It captures the artist’s transition from one style of work to another. The play of light and shadows, exotic models, and theatrical movements of a gypsy painted on this small canvas, inspired the author subsequently to paint a larger canvas.
This painting was created during a visit to Sussex. This is a full-length portrait of Edith and Albert Vickers in their living room. It shows a laid-back picture of the afternoon scene when the meal is already over and you can enjoy a glass of port wine, as this portrait was originally called. The unequal distribution of space for the figures in the portrait may indicate the influence of Eduard Manet and Edgar Degas on the style of the author.
Sargent loved to draw socialites, celebrities, actresses, and singers. His portrait of the wife of the French financier Amelie Gotro is still known as an icon of style, overshadowing many beautiful ladies and men in other portraits of the artist. Around this person, there were many rumors about a marriage of convenience and about the betrayal of the wife. The porter seems to open and at the same time hide her beautiful body and marble skin.
In the picture, we see two children lighting Japanese lanterns, surrounded by huge white lilies. Children seem to be drowning in this floral-grassy frame. There is no horizon or any other flat lines. It’s as if we are looking down on two sisters. It is known that these are the daughters of the artist's friend Frederick Barnard. His third daughter skipped the attention of the artist.
Inspired by Shakespeare's character, Sargent persuaded the actress to pose for this portrait. He depicted the scene of Lady Macbeth putting a crown on her head after the assassination of the Scottish Lord Duncan. This scene is not revealed in the original work, however, it was the artist’s view of this plot moment. A special drapery of Macbeth's gown in green and blue tinsel is designed to create the image of a snake.
This portrait of a Scottish noblewoman is dual in his perception. On the one hand, we see a modest girl, her delicate dress speaks of the ease of her nature, the pose is moderately relaxed, her hair neatly styled. However, her gaze directed straight at the viewer. It speaks of the confidence and determination of her character.
This portrait became a symbol of Sargent's going from portraiture towards plenary art. In the picture, Jane de Glen and her friend Wilfrid are constant companions of the artist. They are also professional artists. Although this picture has the appearance of spontaneity, it required a lot of work. Since it was the time of rains, friends had to pose for several days for this portrait.
Sargent portrayed his niece Rosa-Marie Ormond in this portrait. Here, the author moves away from ordinary portraiture to an informal study of figures. He draws a pensive girl lying in a calm and elegantly casual position.
This picture of the late period shows that Sargent prefers to create not in the studio, but in the open air. Bright yellow colors against the background of peaceful blue waves give the impression of calm and serenity.
The creative heritage of John Singer Sargent totals more than 900 works made in oil, about two thousand watercolor paintings, and various sketches. Many of the paintings are in American, French museums, and other countries. The artist’s works are recognizable by his style and are distinguished by a particularly subtle sense of sensuality of his models, captured forever for us.
