John Singer Sargent RA (1856 - 1925)
John Singer Sargent was the most successful portrait painter of his era, as well as a gifted landscape painter and watercolorist. Born in Florence on 12th January 1856, Sargent was the son of an American opthalmic surgeon Dr Fitzwilliam Sargent of Boston (a descendant of William Sargent of Gloucester who emigrated to Massachusetts before 1650) and Mary (nee Newbold Singer) from Philadelphia. Although Sargent spent most of his life in England, he travelled widely across Europe and remained fiercely proud of his American heritage.
Sargent took up painting at an early age, studying in Italy and Germany, and then in Paris under Emile Auguste Carolus-Duran where he developed a traditional realistic style of painting. His style was later greatly influenced by French Impressionism, particularly during the years following the Madame X scandal when Sargent's spent more time in the company of Claude Monet.
Sargent exhibited Madame X (a portarit of Madame Pierre Gautreau, the American-born wife of a prominent Parisian banker) at the Paris Salon in 1884. The painting caused widespread controversy over what was deemed at the time to be her inappropriate pose and attire. Sargent fled to England, renting a studio in Tite Street, London. Sargent paid his first visit to Broadway in 1885 to recuperate from a head wound he had received whilst diving from a weir in the River Thames near Pangbourne.
Accompanying Edwin Austin Abbey to Broadway, Sargent joined other artists (many of whom were expatriate Americans) that had made Broadway their home. Francis D. Millet had taken up residence in Farnham House overlooking the village green and had shortly be joined by Edwin Blashfield, Alfred Parsons, Fred Barnard, Edmund Gosse, Mary Anderson de Navarro and Henry James. The 'Broadway Colony' of artists opened an artists' studio next door to Farnham House in the 14th century derelict building of Abbots Grange (where Millet painted A Cosey Corner in 1884).
It was in the summers of 1885 and 1886 that Sargent painted Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose in the gardens of Farnham House and Russell House (the house around the corner from Farnham House where Frank Millet and his family moved to in 1886). Following its exhibition at the Royal Academy, the painting was bought for the Tate Gallery in 1887, under the terms of the Chantrey bequest, largely at the insistence of the Royal Academy President, Sir Frederic Leighton and is currently on display at the Tate, London.
Sargent was a gifted painter who mastered so many different styles. He was an impressionist, a portraitist, a landscape artist, a watercolourist and he also painted murals and started sculpting in his later years. Sargent painted prolifically, completing over 900 oils, more than 2,000 watercolours and countless charcoal sketches and pencil drawings. His paintings are now on display in museums and art galleries around the world.
In 1907, Edward VII recommended John Singer Sargent for a knighthood but this was not conferred because he was American.
Sargent died aged 69 years old, on 15th April 1925 and is buried at Brookwood Cemetery, Woking, Surrey. His headstone is inscribed stone is inscribed ‘Laborare est orare — to work is to play’. Beneath these words is his name in the style he adopted throughout his life — John S. Sargent. A memorial service was held at Westminster Abbey on 24th April 1925 and memorial exhibitions were held in London, New York and Boston soon thereafter.
The inaugural Broadway Arts Festival dedicated to John Singer Sargent RA and the Broadway Colony, took place in and around Broadway from Friday 11th June 2010 until Sunday 20th June 2010 and included a series of art exhibitions, talks on Sargent's work, theatre, concerts, a flower festival at St Michael and All Angels' Church (for St Michael's Flower Festival Programme click here), walks and tours of the houses in the village where Sargent lived and painted.
During the Festival there was an exhibition of Sargent's work in one of the art galleries in the village. For the 2010 Programme of Events click here.
Click here for an article, by Debbie Williamson, published in July's Cotswold Syle Magazine on the 2010 Festival and John Singer Sargent RA and the Broadway Colony.
The next Broadway Arts Festival will be held between 8th and 17th June 2012, and will also feature the life and work of Alfred Parsons RA, watercolourist and garden designer.
