What do you think?
Rate this book
Sargent Portrait Drawings: 42 Works by John Singer Sargent
Portraiture is a demanding art requiring the artist to capture a likeness and render it revealing some hint of the personality behind the image. A two-pronged task, it requires great technical skill and an intuitive eye. In both these respects, John Singer Sargent stands out as a portrait artist of major stature.
Born in 1856 in Florence of American parents, Sargent showed artistic aptitude at an early age and was enrolled at the Academia delle Belle Arti in that city. Later he studied with Parisian artist Carolus Duran, acquiring the loose, painterly style for which he is renowned. International acclaim as a portrait artist came early in his life and followed him throughout his career.
Sargent's portraits done in oil are well known; they appear in major museums throughout the world. A lesser-known but no less respected aspect of his oeuvre, his portrait drawings are the focus of this collection. Included here are early works in pencil and pastels, and later renderings in charcoal, a medium Sargent favored after 1910. They have been selected from both public and private collections by art historian Trevor J. Fairbrother and attest to Sargent's technical skill, versatility, and dexterity in three different mediums.
In addition, these works reveal Sargent's ability to treat a diverse group of subjects; he handles the languorous beauties of the Edwardian age, members of the aristocracy, and the great literary and artistic figures of his day with equal virtuosity, capturing their characteristic mood and style. This collection includes portraits of Lord and Lady Spencer, Henry James, William Butler Yeats, Vaslav Nijimsky, Tamara Karsavina, Dame Ethel Smyth, and Jascha Heifetz.
Artists, students, historians, and lovers of portraiture will appreciate this selection of drawings by Sargent. Anyone interested in trying his hand at portraiture will find this volume both instructional and inspirational.
Born in 1856 in Florence of American parents, Sargent showed artistic aptitude at an early age and was enrolled at the Academia delle Belle Arti in that city. Later he studied with Parisian artist Carolus Duran, acquiring the loose, painterly style for which he is renowned. International acclaim as a portrait artist came early in his life and followed him throughout his career.
Sargent's portraits done in oil are well known; they appear in major museums throughout the world. A lesser-known but no less respected aspect of his oeuvre, his portrait drawings are the focus of this collection. Included here are early works in pencil and pastels, and later renderings in charcoal, a medium Sargent favored after 1910. They have been selected from both public and private collections by art historian Trevor J. Fairbrother and attest to Sargent's technical skill, versatility, and dexterity in three different mediums.
In addition, these works reveal Sargent's ability to treat a diverse group of subjects; he handles the languorous beauties of the Edwardian age, members of the aristocracy, and the great literary and artistic figures of his day with equal virtuosity, capturing their characteristic mood and style. This collection includes portraits of Lord and Lady Spencer, Henry James, William Butler Yeats, Vaslav Nijimsky, Tamara Karsavina, Dame Ethel Smyth, and Jascha Heifetz.
Artists, students, historians, and lovers of portraiture will appreciate this selection of drawings by Sargent. Anyone interested in trying his hand at portraiture will find this volume both instructional and inspirational.
48 pages, Paperback
First published August 1, 1983
10 people are currently reading
94 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 28, 2020
Dover publications did it again. Amazing resolution, perfect picture sizes, great curation. no texts, just pictures. Perfect for the art aficionado.
June 7, 2016
I liked this book because it shows the sketchy side of his work and the complete look. I got a better understanding of how he draws and I'm constantly referencing his art in my own. It is affordable and I think a great book for any artist to own.
January 2, 2018
One can learn from Sargent just by looking at his work. A remarkable artist, and a wonderful study of his technique and style.
March 28, 2019
Amazing, inspiring sketches from Sargent!
August 12, 2022
My very favorite painter
April 14, 2023
A slim collection of Sargent's portrait sketches & drawings.
April 21, 2025
A LOT OF NICE DRAWINGS BY SARGENT
I really enjoyed these pictures by John Singer Sargent. He really had a lot of talent. I plan on looking and studying these pictures in future.
I really enjoyed these pictures by John Singer Sargent. He really had a lot of talent. I plan on looking and studying these pictures in future.
January 6, 2013
For $6 I didn't know what to expect. But this thin helping of some of John's work is a nice preview into his beautiful drawings. Great for references although I wish they showed more finished works rather than some quick ones.
May 3, 2017
Nice collection of Sargent's expressive and masterful linework. Background history provided in foreword, followed by full page prints. Wonderful book to have in physical print.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews