Homage to John Singer Sargent, Painter Extraordinaire!
Everybody who knows him knows it. At least that’s what I like to think. There may be detractors, sure, but the work of painter John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) is beyond what one would call “classic”. His virtuosity and creative picture-making prowess are an inspiration which, in my opinion, have rarely been equalled in art history. Now it’s not that everything he has done is pure gold, but the deft confidence with which he applied paint to canvas should be a model and inspiration for all painters whatever their personal style.Watch Full Movie Online Streaming Online and Download
"Self Portrait", 1906 by John Singer Sargent
I’ve picked a painting by Sargent to show here which may not be one of his best known but which has appropriately found its way into the Uffizi Gallery in Florence. The self portrait, like his other works, shows an economy of brush strokes and sensitivity of paint quality which is completely devoid of “fussiness” yet perfectly describes every facet of the subject both physically and spiritually. I believe the spontaneous appearance of his direct or alla prima style is authentic. Yet we know that it was not rushed. He would work standing up and step back with each stroke to see its effect on the overall composition. He was also generous with his use of paint. A close up look at some of his work will amaze the viewer with his bold use of color and paint application. Truly I consider him to be one of those past artists whom I admire most of all.
I will be giving a talk on Sargent this fall (2013) and the more I delve into this subject the more I find him fascinating. He was truly one of the most remarkable talents in the history of art. His work ethic was superb – up early in the morning to commence painting and then working on through evening with breaks for meals and rest. Not many “dedicated” artists do that now.
I think critics have put him down either because of jealousy or that fact that Sargent does not conveniently “fit” into the isms of the so-called modern movements of art. And yet, he doesn’t seem to “fit” into the traditional modes of classical art either. I find his color and brushwork to be exceptionally invigorating and durable. His paintings still seem fresh and lively even in our current 21st century.
Despite what critics say (some more recent ones have been kinder), Sargent will survive into the future, while many other will fall by the wayside into oblivion.
Well said! I completely agree with your points about Sargent’s enduring and inspiring talent. An exceptional and well-developed gift like his speaks for itself and doesn’t need a critic’s validation to confirm its cultural value. I’d be curious to know more about your upcoming talk. In any event, good luck with that and thanks for your insightful comments!