One of the foremost portrait painters of the late nineteenth century, John Singer Sargent was known for capturing piercing likenesses of prominent sitters with lively brushwork and rich color. By the early twentieth century, however, he had grown tired of high-society portraiture and turned his attention to artistic genres that brought him more personal pleasure. During this time, Sargent produced small-scale graphite portraits and plein air paintings. He embarked on numerous trips to Venice, rendering the city’s architecture and waterways in both oil and in watercolor.
The son of expatriate American parents, Sargent was born in Florence, Italy, received his artistic training in Paris, and spent much of his life abroad. He achieved widespread fame during his lifetime and developed friendships with prominent cultural figures such as Claude Monet, Auguste Rodin, and Robert Louis Stevenson.
Source: Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
Website
http://www.johnsingersargent.org
