Contents
John Singer Sargent
Painting Madame X and some of the most recognizable portraits of his era.
Madame X · Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose
- Born
- 12 January 1856
- Birthplace
- Florence, Italy
- Died
- 15 April 1925
More people
John Singer Sargent
American painter who spent much of his life in Europe. Known for fluent portraits, he also produced landscapes, watercolours and ambitious public murals.
Early life
A travelling childhood
Born to American parents in Florence and grew up moving around Europe.
Paris training
Studied with Carolus-Duran and at the École des Beaux-Arts, developing his command of painting directly with the brush.
Career
- 1870s–1880s
Paris reputation
Exhibited at the Salon and built a career in portraiture.
- 1880s–1900s
London success
Moved to England and became a highly sought-after portrait painter.
- After 1907
A broader practice
Reduced formal portrait commissions and devoted more time to murals, travel and watercolours.
Selected work
Madame X
A portrait of Virginie Gautreau whose Salon reception caused a scandal.
Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose
Children lighting paper lanterns in the fading evening light.
Gassed
A monumental painting of soldiers injured by poison gas during the First World War.
Beyond work
Music and friendship
Was an accomplished pianist and maintained friendships across artistic circles.
War commission
Visited the Western Front in 1918 to gather material for an official British war painting.
Sources & photo credit
Biography and references ↗Institutional biography and career ↗Featured work and significance ↗Photo: James E. Purdy. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.
