Men on a Spar

1874

The Beaux-Arts exam and a silver prize

In 1874 Sargent passes on his first attempt the rigorous entrance exam of the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and takes drawing classes with Adolphe Yvon, including anatomy and perspective, winning a silver prize; he also spends much time in self-study, drawing in museums and painting in a studio shared with James Carroll Beckwith, who becomes his primary connection with American artists abroad.

1874–1877 · Education

Beaux-Arts de Paris

1874–1878

Carolus-Duran's atelier and the alla prima method

Sargent studies with the young portraitist Carolus-Duran, whose influence is pivotal for him from 1874 to 1878: instead of the traditional underdrawing, the atelier teaches the alla prima method of working directly on the canvas with a loaded brush, derived from Velázquez. Sargent is the star student in short order, and one of his paintings in this manner prompts the remark “the student has surpassed the teacher”.

after 1878

A trip to Spain: Velázquez, music and dance

After leaving Carolus-Duran's atelier Sargent visits Spain: he studies the paintings of Velázquez with passion, absorbing his technique, and is entranced with Spanish music and dance; the trip re-awakens his own talent for music, which finds visual expression in his early masterpiece “El Jaleo” (1882).