John Singer SargentAmerican, 1856–1925Studies of a Man's Head
May one see it?
Not receiving at present
National Gallery of Art
Washington, D.C., United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- 5 hours ago
- In this state since
- Aug 19, 2026
- Source
- The museum's own collection data
Particulars
- Accession number
- 2015.19.714
What it shows
In the catalog
Sources
- National Gallery of Art: the museum's own open data · fetched 4 days ago
- Image: National Gallery of Art — Museum open access
Meanwhile, in the life of John Singer Sargent
The whole life1874
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”.
![Scenes from the Passion of Christ: The Descent into Limbo [right panel], Andrea Vanni, 1380s](https://api.nga.gov/iiif/4205a539-eadd-4486-89a7-3cff9c1ba428/full/!2400,2400/0/default.jpg)
