American expatriate portrait artist
John Singer Sargent
was born,
January 12, 1856
in Florence, Italy
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Sargent was the most successful portrait painter of his era, as well as a gifted landscape painter and watercolorist.
He was considered the “leading portrait painter of his generation” for his evocations of Edwardian-era luxury. 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.
From the beginning, Sargent’s work is 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. Art historians generally ignored artists who painted Royalty and “Society” – such as Sargent – until the late 20th century.
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So here’s a glimpse of his work & words
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“Color is an inborn gift, but appreciation of value is merely training of the eye, which everyone ought to be able to acquire.”
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[Sargent had Roosevelt hold his pose when he turned around with impatience to address the artist while they were walking around the White House surveying possible locations for the portrait.]
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“I don’t dig beneath the surface for things that don’t appear before my own eyes.”
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“If you begin with the middle-tone and work up from it toward the darks so that you deal last with your highest lights and darkest darks, you avoid false accents.”
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“I have now got a bombproof shelter [the Continent] into which I retire when I sniff the coming portrait or its trajectory.”
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“The thicker you paint, the more it flows.”
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“Cultivate an ever continuous power of observation. Wherever you are, be always ready to make slight notes of postures, groups and incidents. Store up in the mind… a continuous stream of observations from which to make selections later. Above all things get abroad, see the sunlight and everything that is to be seen.”
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“You can’t do sketches enough. Sketch everything and keep your curiosity fresh.”
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“No small dabs of colour – you want plenty of paint to paint with.”
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“Every time I paint a portrait, I lose a friend.”
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“To work is to pray.”
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Watercolors
Bedouins 
Brook among Rocks 
Gondoliers’ Siesta 
Gourds 
Muddy Alligators 
Simplon Pass – Reading 
sister Emily (center) with their nieces in the Alps 
Venice – Under the Rialto Bridge 
Villa di Marlia, Lucca – A Fountain 
White Ships
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American composer
Morton Feldman [1926-1987]
was also born on this day,
January 12, 1926
so we listen to his
Piano and String Quartet
with Kronos Quartet
& Aki Takahashi, piano
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For more information on Sargent:
https://www.johnsingersargent.org/
https://www.tate.org.uk/art/artists/john-singer-sargent-475
https://www.metmuseum.org/toah/hd/sarg/hd_sarg.htm
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Singer_Sargent
Marina Kanavaki 
Now I know more about John Singer Sargent than ever before. I’ve seen the Portrait of Madame X at the Metropolitan Museum in New York:
https://www.metmuseum.org/art/collection/search/12127
Oh, I’m happy to hear that… and I’d love to see it in life.
Unfortunately now isn’t a good time to visit New York. One of these days…
I was wondering if you would include “Portrait of Madame X.” I’ve seen it in person. It’s quite startling in a disturbing kind of way.
Her expression and posture…
I’d love to see it in person.
Lucky you, Liz!! What a back story!!! YIKES!
I love his work, one of my favourite things to do in London is go to the museums when we’re not locked down of course.
Amazing artist. Yes, I know what you mean. I do hope museums open up again soon. It’s a real shame not being able to see art up close. xo
My husband and I miss going to museums as well.
Let us hope that O, or whatever other letter is dying off and art will be available to our eye!
So, that was the theme music the entire time I was making dinner!
It was the most gentle…
xoxoxoxoxoxo
Ah, glad you enjoyed!!!
🍷😘😘🎶😘🤗🍷
🍷😘😘🎶😘🤗🍷
🎶🐾💝🐾🎶
I love this music!
Ah, happy to hear that! Me too!
Such gorgeous artwork and text! xoxoxo
Ah, yes!!! Amazing painter! 🥰😘🥰
Indeed! Love your art even more! ❤️🌹
a great selection of pictures you took, i like them very much, especially the 3rd, 9th, 12th, 15th and 18th.
best regards robert
Oh, my, you counted!!! 😉 Thank you so much. I’m so happy you enjoyed his work.
Best regards to you too!! 🙏
Joh Singer Sargent had a remarkable way of capturing personalities. What an extraordinary life!
Oh, yes he did! Extraordinary painter! 🙏🤗
That was my immediate impression as well. He is so good with facial expressions, quite remarkably so!
Oh, yes he is… among many other things! 😉
One of my all-time favorites. I remember, quite a few years ago, the Muse and I walking into the Met in New York (or was it the National Gallery in London?) The location doesn’t matter. What mattered was a special exhibition of Sargent that we happened upon by accident. We gasped. We stood transfixed. As I recall, they had to kick us out at closing time.
How fortunate! I can definitely imagine me in that same state!!!😉
😊
Sargent was a Genius! One of my Favourites from that Style.
He is brilliant!!! 🙏
Argents work is so good. I love it.
Sargent that is. I can’t type worth a hoot these days.
Don’t worry… I do that all the time! 😉
Oh, me too! 🙏
Wonderful! So many techniques and media. I love the movement he conveys, especially El Jaleo!
I agree with you. I love that one and the dress of Lady Agnew (and that chair!)😉❤
My other favorite! 🤗😘
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I didn’t realize he had that much range.
Amazing right?! I also love his watercolors!