Sargent & Fashion, currently on at Tate Britain, connects the artist’s paintings with some of the garments used in his pictures.
If you wanted a portrait in the late 19th – early 20th century in Europe or the USA you really couldn’t go wrong with John Singer Sargent – there was no-one quite like him for style and glamour.
Compare this photo of Ellen Terry in the role of Lady Macbeth with his portrait above.
He would adjust the outfits for dramatic effect. As you can see, the painted costume is much bluer than the real thing, making it look even more sumptuous.
I like this quote from Sargent to the costume designer Alice Comyns Carr.
“You and I ought to have signed that together… for I could not have done it if you had not invented the dress.”
This yellow dress was selected by Sargent for his portrait of Carmen Dauset Moreno (Carmencita). He later lent it to a friend for a fancy dress party.
Sargent often placed his subjects in status-laden settings, following the tradition of portraiture. This picture of Lord Ribblesdale presents him as the epitome of the Edwardian aristocrat.
He was just so good with paint! Look at this oil sketch of Vernon Lee, reputedly painted in just an hour.
The confidence, skill and verve of those brush strokes.
You can read about one of his most famous paintings Madame X, also on display in the show, in an earlier post here.