John Singer Sargent

American, 1856-1925

An American artist working primarily in Europe, John Singer Sargent was known for his technical precision and influential portraiture. Born in Florence to American parents, he studied in Rome, at the Accademia di Belle Arti in Florence, and later at the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris. 

By the 1880s, Sargent had established a strong reputation for his portraits of high society, artists, and intellectuals. A visit to Claude Monet in Giverny in 1887 introduced him to Impressionist methods, which subtly informed his approach to light and color. 

His career brought him widespread recognition. In 1897, he was elected to the National Academy of Design in New York and the Royal Academy in London, and he was named a member of the French Legion of Honor. Despite his commercial success, Sargent eventually moved away from commissioned portraiture, focusing instead on landscapes, murals, and watercolors. 

Today, his work is held in major collections around the world, admired for its balance of elegance, immediacy, and technical control. In 2025, the Metropolitan Museum of Art opened Sargent and Paris, a major exhibition of his formative decade in France, showcasing nearly 100 works including preparatory studies and the iconic Madame X.