I chose to continue my research on John Singer Sargent for my final paper because of his strong interest in the female image. I wanted to know why Sargent chose women as his main subjects. His works include women of high social class, children of the wealthy and political figures. He also did painting of women in lower classes that he came in contact with in Venice, Capri, Spain and Africa. In this essay I will be discussing his works, the history of the paintings and the meaning behind the women in the paintings.
John Singer Sargent was born 1856 in Florence, Italy. He had 2 sisters; he was close to both of them and often took piano and dance classes together. (The secret life of John Singer Sargent, Telegraph). Sargent was always interested …show more content…
It was first exhibited as Madame XXX, but later removed because of the scandal around the painting. A young pale skinned woman, in a silk black dress with two thin chained straps, had gripping onto the front of the dress, which looked to me like she was showing her figure and the bustle of the fabric. It took 30 sessions to complete the portrait. It was exhibited in the 1884 Paris Salon, and caused a stir right away. Critics like L 'Événement, called it “hideousness”. It portrayed that married women could be loose and show such expressions around other men. The models name was Virginia Amelia Avegno from New Orleans, and was married to banker Pierre Gautreau. Sargent received the worst reviews of his career from this painting and swore to never paint anything as bold again. I do not believe that Sargent meant to receive such backlash, for a portrayal it was never meant to get. He was commissioned to do this painting for a wife of a successful banker and showed a side of her many in the public did not see. It was a daring move to make, because women were seen as elegant, beautiful and posed. He might saw this as an opportunity to show something more. While looking at this painting I found that he emphasized her nose as she turned to the side looking out into the distance. Her facial features were prominent. They were facial features many artists did not capture as much, because they were not the most attractive
John Singer Sargent was born 1856 in Florence, Italy. He had 2 sisters; he was close to both of them and often took piano and dance classes together. (The secret life of John Singer Sargent, Telegraph). Sargent was always interested …show more content…
It was first exhibited as Madame XXX, but later removed because of the scandal around the painting. A young pale skinned woman, in a silk black dress with two thin chained straps, had gripping onto the front of the dress, which looked to me like she was showing her figure and the bustle of the fabric. It took 30 sessions to complete the portrait. It was exhibited in the 1884 Paris Salon, and caused a stir right away. Critics like L 'Événement, called it “hideousness”. It portrayed that married women could be loose and show such expressions around other men. The models name was Virginia Amelia Avegno from New Orleans, and was married to banker Pierre Gautreau. Sargent received the worst reviews of his career from this painting and swore to never paint anything as bold again. I do not believe that Sargent meant to receive such backlash, for a portrayal it was never meant to get. He was commissioned to do this painting for a wife of a successful banker and showed a side of her many in the public did not see. It was a daring move to make, because women were seen as elegant, beautiful and posed. He might saw this as an opportunity to show something more. While looking at this painting I found that he emphasized her nose as she turned to the side looking out into the distance. Her facial features were prominent. They were facial features many artists did not capture as much, because they were not the most attractive