CURATOR RECOMMENDS

 

"This lavishly illustrated book contains a series of insightful essays about the impact of Sargent's wide-ranging travels throughout Spain on his artistic subjects and process. Foregrounding key influences on his creative development--including the work of older Spanish masters such as Diego Velázquez; Spanish dance and music; and the country's magnificent architecture, landscapes, and religious devotional imagery--the catalog concludes with a comprehensive illustrated chronology of Sargent's time spent absorbing these rich inspirations." 

 

-Emma Acker, Associate Curator of American Art

 

American artist John Singer Sargent (1856–1925) experienced Spain, including the picturesque island of Majorca, as a source of rejuvenation and inspiration. Sargent & Spain, the catalogue for the upcoming exhibition opening at the Legion of Honor next spring, features scores of the artist’s dazzling watercolors, oil paintings, and drawings, from landscapes and seascapes to architectural studies, scenes of everyday life, and sympathetic portraits of the Roma and other local people he encountered. Immersing himself in the country’s rich culture, he studied Spanish masters old and new, lavishing particular attention on works by Diego Velázquez in the Prado. He rendered the distinctive architecture of the Alhambra as well as other palaces and churches, and he captured lively scenes of ports and villages. Intrigued by Spanish dance and music, Sargent created dynamic views of flamenco and the famous dancer La Carmencita. A map and an illustrated chronology document the artist’s seven trips to and travels through Spain. This handsome book showcases, for the first time, Sargent’s captivation with Spain and the remarkable works of art now associated with it. Hardcover only, 256 pages.