John Singer Sargent: Figures and Landscapes, 1874-1882; Complete Paintings: Volume IV

by Richard Ormond, Elaine Kilmurray, Warren Adelson

From 1874 to 1882, John Singer Sargent (1856–1925) produced more than 200 paintings and water-colors aside from portraiture, including figures in landscape settings, architectural studies, seascapes, subject paintings, and studies after old masters. From powerful studies of models in Paris in the mid-1870s to compelling paintings set in Venice in the early 1880s, the works published in this volume of the catalogue raisonné show the variety of his aesthetic responses. He worked in the studio and en plein air, travelling widely during the eight years covered in this volume and painting in Paris, Brittany, Capri, Spain, North Africa, and Venice.
This is the first time that Sargent’s early work has been mapped so comprehensively. With very few exceptions, this beautifully produced book illustrates all the pictures under discussion in color. Each painting, including several which have never been published before, is documented in depth with full provenance, exhibition history, and bibliography, and in many cases new information is provided. The volume also reproduces a wealth of Sargent’s preliminary and related drawings and of comparative works by other artists.

Genres: Art, Art History, Reference

446 pages, Hardcover

First published October 23, 2006

Reviews

[Todd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wonderful book of Sargents work. I really like his sketches section, mainly in Italy, and of course his figurative work. There are a lot of Sargent books out there, and they are all expensive, this one is a good overall book, but his work is pretty broad, so it is worth picking up more or googling and starting an image folder, which is more often than not what i do.

[Paula · Rating 3 out of 5]

Love the work of JSS, but this book had many more studies than actual whole paintings. These studies were amazing to look at. Interesting to see how the studies of faces and hands, fingers, feet, etc. were all done ahead of the actual painting, and sometimes many, many times over. His work is wonderful to see.

[Shelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Breathtaking and inspiring!