Monday, July 27
John Singer Sargent: Images from the Gilded Age
Martin Randall: Independent Arts Scholar and Speaker, Tucson Art Talks
John Singer Sargent captured the spirit of the Gilded Age with lavish portraits of wealthy society patrons. Martin Randall shares how Sargent’s early life in Europe as the son of expatriate Americans influenced him. Sargent’s parents exposed him to European art and culture at every opportunity; living in many different countries, he soaked up culture and became fluent in many languages. He was also a perpetual outsider; in varied settings he was the American expat, the sophisticated Parisian painter, or the famous European artist.
Perhaps being an outsider gave him a different perspective, painting his subjects objectively. He became a highly sought-after portraitist with paintings that were generally admired, sometimes scandalous, and always captivating. Eventually he tired of portraits, and returned to his first love, travel. He painted countless images of his travels in Europe, North Africa, and the United States. This presentation explores Sargent’s fascinating life.