John Singer Sargent Impressionist Period

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John Singer SargentImpressionist Period
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Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose
Impressionist Art

• The impressionist movement began in the mid to
  late 1800s in France.
• Impressionist art is marked by visible
  brushstrokes, an emphasis on light and ordinary
  subject matter.
• Photography was gaining popularity
• Inspired candid poses
• Inspired painters to extend their artistic
  expression beyond an exact copy of what the eye
  can see
• Photographs were only black white then, so
  painters really concentrated on colors
• Emphasis was on the vivid overall effect of the
  painting instead of the precise details of each
  object in the painting.

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Fumee dAmbre Gris

• How is this painting the same as a photograph?
• Notice the pose, and the candid, immediate feel
  of the work -- as if the subject doesnt know
  the artist is there
• How is this drawing different from a photograph?
• Notice the visible brush strokes in the
  painting. The background is imperfect.

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Mildred Carter
John Singer Sargent

• John Singer Sargent was born on January 12, 1856
  in Florence, Italy to American parents. He died
  in 1925.
• Sargent was the most successful portrait painter
  of his era, and is still known primarily for his
  portrait work. However, he was also a gifted
  landscape painter.
• Sargent created over 900 oil paintings, and over
  2,000 watercolors, as well as countless sketches
  and charcoal drawings in his lifetime. This is
  an astounding amount of work and testifies to his
  passion for his art.
• Johns parents traveled through Europe
  extensively throughout Johns youth. His father
  was a well-respected doctor, and when John was
  older, his social standing helped him to get work
  as a portrait artist for aristocrats.

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Lady with Parasol

• When John was 13, he began helping a landscape
  artist in his studio. Here John begins painting
  by copying the artists watercolors.
• At age 18, John began studying under an artist in
  Paris. Six months later, he is admitted to the
  Ecole des Beaux Artes in Paris, an extremely
  prestigious Art school.
• By the time he is 27, John is a well-known
  artist. He continued his travels around the
  world and found inspiration wherever he went.
• Impressionist art is often spoken of in terms of
  movement. What do you think that means? Do
  you see movement in this painting.
• How does the artist use color here to create an
  overall effect?
• Notice all of the different shades of white that
  are used from beige to pink to grey and blue.
• What about this painting demonstrates the
  impressionist style?

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Madame X

• This is one of Sargents most famous works and
  was also his favorite.
• The painting is huge -- measuring over 7 feet
  tall 3.5 feet wide.
• Sargent had met Madame X on several occasions and
  wanted to paint her portrait. He got a mutual
  friend to convince her to sit for the portrait..
• When this portrait was first exhibited in Paris
  in 1884, the public found it scandalous the
  painting was deemed too provocative.
• The painting destroyed Madame Xs reputation in
  Paris
• John left Paris with the painting before the
  Exhibition ended. He believed that Madame X had
  plans to destroy the painting. (He was right.)
• Within 10 years, the styles had changed
  sufficiently such that this portrait was no
  longer considered scandalous. Sargent eventually
  exhibited it at the Worlds Fair in San Francisco
  in 1916 and sold it to the Metropolitan Museum of
  Art for 1,000 British pounds.
• What is extraordinary about this painting? Why
  do you think it was Sargents favorite work?
• What do you think of Sargents use of colors
  here?
• What kind of woman do you think that Madame X is?
  What do you know about her from looking at the
  painting?
• What do you think of her pose

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Lady Agnew of Lochnaw

• This is another of Sargents most famous
  portraits. It was painted in 1892 when Sargent
  was 36 years old.
• The painting was an astounding success and was
  praised by art critics as one of the greatest
  portraits of all time.
• What do you think makes this portrait special?
  How is it different from other portraits you have
  seen think about paintings of kings and queens.
• What do you know about Lady Agnew just from what
  you see in the portrait?
• What elements of the impressionist style are used
  in this painting?
• How do you think the use of colors make a
  difference in this painting? Imagine that her
  dress were red or black. How would that change
  the tone of the painting?

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Frederick Law Olmstead

• This portrait was done in 1895.
• The subject is widely recognized as the father of
  American landscape architecture. He designed
  Central Park in NYC.
• This portrait was done towards the end of
  Olmsteads life. Sargent received pressure from
  Olmsteads wife to make Olmstead look more
  healthy and vibrant than he was at the time.
• It is impossible to know if he bowed to her
  wishes, but to do so would have been out of
  character for Sargent.
• Some critics have said that this portrait is a
  weak effort on Sargents part.
• A particular criticism is that the background is
  contrived and unrealistic.
• Sargent did paint this indoors, and added the
  flora from his imagination.
• What do you think?
• What do you think Sargent was trying to do in
  this portrait?