John Singer Sargent Seminar

The American painter John Singer Sargent was born in Italy and spent most of his professional life in Paris and London. However, his touchstone in the U.S. was Boston. It was here that he interacted with America's finest patrons and painted some of his greatest works, many of which still hang in the city's museums. During this three-hour walk we'll explore the work and biography of John Singer Sargent and trace his influence on late 19th century and early 20th century American art.

We'll begin our program at the Boston Public Library where Sargent painted a series of murals. Though not considered among his top works, the murals mark Sargent's first encounter with Boston and Bostonian society, a relationship that would later prove extremely influential to his career.

With Europe—in particular Venice—on our mind, we'll move from here to the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum across the street. We'll move from here to the Museum of Fine Arts or MFA, one of the country's most important art museums and a short trolley ride away. The MFA holds some of the most important works by Sargent, including an in-situ rotunda of his murals.

Gardner was a prominent force in American art and art collecting at the end of the 19th century, and through her fascination for Venice (the museum is a recreation of a Venice palazzo) she came into contact with Sargent at the peak of his career, drawing him back to Boston for a time to consult with her on acquisitions and, of course, paint portraits of her and her friends. Sargent's portrait of Gardner, one of his most important works, still hangs in the Museum where, like all the artworks here, it was originally intended.

Boston Public Library, Museum of Fine Arts (portions), and Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum.