Here are fifteen entertaining, informative, and highly readable art-related books that I have personally read and loved.
Tag: John Singer Sargent
Art That Inspires Me: Lady Agnew of Locknaw by John Singer Sargent
I love the American artist John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), and I have wanted to write an Art That Inspires Me post about him for a while. However, there are just so many things that inspire me about Sargent, and I struggled to pick a few to focus on. This is my all-time favorite Sargent painting. It depicts Lady (Gertrude) Agnew of Locknaw, the wife of a Scottish nobleman.
An Array of Art at Biltmore
Unlike his father, George Vanderbilt wasn't a huge art collector. He collected prints, but beyond that, he generally preferred to spend his money on his home and lands rather than paintings and sculptures. However, he still managed to acquire quite a few notable works of art that are now on display at Biltmore. Here are some of my favorites.
The Appeal of John Singer Sargent
Many people find John Singer Sargent's work to be very appealing, but this isn't always the case. He has received sometimes-contradictory criticism both in his own time and now. What makes Sargent's work so compelling?
The Mysterious Daughters of Edward Darley Boit
John Singer Sargent's 1882 painting The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit is compelling and a bit mysterious. While reading Erica Hirshler's book about the painting, I learned that interpretations of the work have changed over time, and Sargent's contemporaries didn't read the same tone into it that we do.
The War of Art: A John Singer Sargent Fun Fact
A little backstory on John Singer Sargent's portrait of French siblings Edouard and Marie-Louise Pailleron. In this unusual case, animosity between the artist and one of the sitters made for surprisingly effective painting.
John Singer Sargent
An article about Sargent's portraits and thoughts on Strapless, a book about Sargent and Madame X.
American Art of the Week: Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose by John Singer Sargent
Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose is a lovely, dreamlike painting by John Singer Sargent. It depicts two little girls with Japanese lanterns in a setting of pale flowers.
American Art of the Week: Edwin Booth by John Singer Sargent
This week's artist, like last week's, is among the most famous artists in American history. John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) made many of his best-known works, including the scandalous Portrait of Madame X, during the many years in which he lived in Europe, but he was an American-born artist who painted many American subjects throughout his career. Today's featured work depicts Edwin Booth (1833-1893) - actor, theatre owner, and older brother of Lincoln's assassin.
A Selection of Watercolors by John Singer Sargent
In addition to his portraits, John Singer Sargent painted many, many watercolors. They often depicted landscapes and other scenes he had observed during his travels in Europe, America, and the Middle East.