Rarely shown artworks by a famous painter: in Sargent and Spain, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. exhibits about 120 works by John Singer Sargent. They are related to Sargent's travels in Spain, which spanned three decades. The exhibition opens on 2 October.
Around 1900, the American John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) was the most sought-after and most expensive portraitist in the world. Countless aristocrats demanded the portraits Sargent executed with extraordinary technical skills. During his life, he travelled through Spain several times, producing paintings, watercolours and drawings. The National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. is now devoting Sargent and Spain to this rather unknown aspect of Sargent's oeuvre. Most of the 120 or so works of art presented have rarely been exhibited before, which makes the show a special experience. In addition, from 2 October to 2 January, visitors will see 28 unpublished photographs that Sargent most likely shot himself.
John Singer Sargent was born in Florence to US parents and spent almost his entire life in various European cities. From his teacher Carolus-Duran he inherited an enthusiasm for the Spanish painter Diego Velázquez, whose paintings Sargent copied in the Prado. Sargent and his particular technical skills were accused towards the end of his life of producing only superficial art. By this time he had long since earned a reputation as the best portrait painter in the world. Over 900 oil paintings and 2000 watercolours by Sargent are known today.
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