John Singer Sargent: A Celebrated American Impressionist
John Singer Sargent (1856– 1925) was a celebrated American painter who became known for his depictions of expatriate Americans, socialites, and high-society Europeans during the Gilded Age. He was a leader in the Impressionist art movement, celebrated for his bold brushwork and dynamic compositions.
Childhood and Family
John Singer Sargent was born in Florence, Italy, on January 12, 1856, to American parents who were living on the continent for reasons of health and business. His father, socially connected businessman Fitzwilliam Sargent, was born in Gloucester, Massachusetts, and his mother, Mary Newbold Singer, was born in Albany, New York. He had three siblings—Emily, Violet, and Violet-Lelia.
The family was divided between the U.S. and Europe for much of Sargent’s childhood. He learned to speak English, German, and French fluently. He was fortunate to live in Europe and become exposed to many great art museums at an early age, including the Uffizi Gallery and the Galleria dell’Accademia.
Education and Career
John Singer Sargent started his formal art training in 1869 and studied at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence. He then trained in the studio of Charles Gleyre in Paris, where he was introduced to the techniques of the Hudson River School, the Munich School, and the genre scenes of Adolph Menzel and other classical painters.
In 1874, he returned to the U.S. and traveled the country, studying the art of the American Old Masters, including Thomas Cole and Asher B. Durand. He then spent several months in London where he worked under the direction of Edward Poynter, Edwin Augustus Abbey, and J. W. Waterhouse.
In 1877, Sargent returned to Paris and opened his own studio. During this time, his work extended into portrait painting and he won praise for his formal style of painting. He was celebrated for his portraits of Americans and Europeans of the Gilded Age, with works such as Portrait of Robert Louis Stevenson and his Wife and Mrs. Henry White.
Impressionist Art Movement
John Singer Sargent is often credited with helping to bring the Impressionist art movement to America. He was heavily influenced by the Impressionist painters of the 19th century, especially Monet, Renoir, and Degas. He also drew inspiration from the Barbizon School painters and the French Barbizon School’s Alexandre-Claude Decamps, who was a leader in the Barbizon School.
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, Sargent focused on painting landscapes and figures in a spontaneous, impressionistic way. He was known for his vibrant use of color, as evidenced in works such as Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose and El Jaleo. These paintings are widely admired for their dynamic composition and bold brushwork.
Legacy
John Singer Sargent was among the most widely acclaimed portraitists of the Gilded Age and the leading figure of the impressionist art movement in the U.S. He was honored with the Gold Medal of Honor at the Paris Exposition of 1889 and was made a senior member of the Royal Academy of Arts in London in 1902.
In 1997, the Arkansas Arts Center named its new two-story, 8000-square foot gallery of American art in honor of Sargent, and in 2005 he was inducted into the National Portrait Gallery’s Hall of Fame.
Today, his works can be seen in many of the world’s most distinguished art collections, including the MFA in Boston, the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the National Gallery in London, and the Musee d’Orsay in Paris.
John Singer Sargent’s legacy as an American painter, teacher, and leader of the Impressionist art movement will continue to be admired and celebrated for many years to come.
