The Watercolors of John Singer Sargent

by Carl Little, John Singer Sargent, Arnold Skolnick

John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) stands among the greatest of watercolor painters, along with J.M.W. Turner, Winslow Homer, and other masters of this difficult medium. Watercolor was more than a distraction from the portrait and mural commissions Sargent labored over; after 1900, watercolor became central to his artistic vision. His aquarelles are, simply stated, masterworks. Portraits, interiors, landscapes, architectural studies—Sargent's work in watercolor offers a great variety of subject matter, ranging from Arab gypsies to World War I soldiers, to masterful depictions of Venetian churches, to Florida swamp alligators.

Sargent carried his watercolors on his travels; They were ideally suited to capturing the scene, the light, the air, wherever he found himself. This book serves as a record of his travels, featuring the paintings he produced in Palestine, Northern Africa, the Canadian Rockies, Italy, Switzerland, Spain, and Greece. Among specific locales were the islands of Majorca and Corfu; Florence, Venice, Carrara, Lake Garda, and Rome; the Alps; Lake O'Hara; the coast of Maine and the Miami River.

Sargent's bold and often experimental use of the medium, which sometimes led to semi-abstract images, compels admiration among contemporary painters as well as museum goers today. In addition to placing Sargent's accomplishments in the context of his life and time, Carl Little discusses the artist's extraordinary watercolor technique.

Genres: Art, Nonfiction

160 pages, Hardcover

First published March 1, 1999

Reviews

[Parka · Rating 5 out of 5]

(More pictures on my blog)

This is a nice large paperback book collecting the watercolour paintings of John Singer Sargent (1856-1925).

There portraits, Venice, Africa, the mountains, Europe and even scenes from World War I. All the paintings are printed wonderfully big, all the more better for admiring the brush strokes and techniques.

His use of colours is masterly. You cannot exactly pinpoint the colour scheme he uses, and the end result is always quite balanced. The techniques and effects he used are very different from the usual watercolour styles, and in certain cases look like oil paintings.

At 160 pages, it has plenty of artwork to marvel at.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a new watercolorist, I look through the photos in this book weekly. I found the Carl Little text quite helpful to me, someone new to the study of John Singer Sargent, a truly outstanding painter. I had seen many of his oils in my various museum trips over the years, but this book shows Singer to be a singularly brilliant watercolorist. In those days, watercolors were seen as practice for the real (oil) painting, but Singer really pushed the form along. His work is simply stunning. Enjoy!

[Roisin · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a beautiful and enlightening book. John Singer Sargent was a great American Artist, but is better known for his society portraits, which was what paid the rent and for his travel excursions.

He lived a nomadic life as a child and this no doubt gave him an enthusiasm for other places. He would tell is students to,
"...get abroad, see the sunlight..."

He loved painting outdoors, objects and people on his travels, tramps in barns, friends picknicking, fountains, soldiers bathing, Italian workmen, Arab men and women, boats, war torn buildings and wreckage. Whatever took his interest.

The book contains notes and references and a good bibliography for further reading and sources. Throughout are quotes from individuals on Sargent, such as Henry James, Mary Newbold Patterson Hale, Vernon Lee and the artist himself. Pure delight!

[Gillian · Rating 4 out of 5]

While Sargent is known mainly for his portraits of high society, his watercolours are no less accomplished. Fresh, un-muddied, and gorgeous.

[Cameron Toney · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm very familiar with the portraits and oil paintings of John Singer Sargent, but the watercolors are a delightful discovery. These are gorgeous, masterful watercolors, and have only added to my high opinion of the artist.

[ツツ]

It felt incredibly natural and respectful.

[Avis Black · Rating 1 out of 5]

The watercolors in this book are nearly all landscapes, and nearly all are slapdash studies by an artist capable of much better. A couple of time he actually tries and really achieves something outstanding, but Sargent seemed to have little interest in anything except portraiture. This book is a painful-to-witness waste of talent.