John Singer Sargent's Portraits

John Singer Sargent was born in the mid 19th century.  His parents were  American expatriates, they moved around a lot, mostly in Europe when John was growing up. As a young boy, he struggled with his studies, this was because he didn't like to sit and wanted to move around and to be outside in nature. Something else that he enjoyed was drawing and at the age of thirteen his mother said that he was becoming very good.  His early interest in drawing might have also stemmed from his parents; Sargent's father was an eye doctor who drew medical drawings and his mother Mary was a talented amateur artist. As John improved in art he learned under a couple of teachers, one who would become quite famous.  Sargent would soon become famous too, at the age of 21 he painted a portrait of his childhood friend, Fanny Watts in 1877.  This portrait would be the beginning of a very successful artistic career.  After his initial success he had a big set back, it involved painting a portrait of a socialite Madame Pierre Gautreau, titled "Madame X".  Sargent thought that this painting, displayed in the Paris Salon, would precipitate portrait commissions but because of her rumored character it only caused a scandal.  This negative reaction galvanized John Singer Sargent's decision of moving from Paris to London.  He had a long and prolific career in portraits, eventually commanding $5000 for each portrait ($130,000 in today's value).  His career took him around the world, he traveled to America a number of times.  He also traveled to North Africa, the Middle East and throughout Europe.  Sargent painted nobility and two American presidents, Theodore Roosevelt and Woodrow Wilson.  Toward the end of his career he stopped painting portraits on the whole, to focus on painting what he really liked, landscapes, exotic locations and characters.  Sargent admitted that he didn't like doing portraits because he had to pretend to be happy even when he felt miserable.  I think what we can take away from this, is that we have to ask ourselves if (whatever it is we are pursuing) do we really like it? Or will we really be satisfied with doing it day in and day out? Or maybe if possible, trying to change it up sometimes!

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