John Singer SargentAmerican, 1856–1925Study of a Tree
May one see it?
Not receiving at present
Harvard Art Museums
Cambridge, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- In this state since
- Source
- The museum
Particulars
- Accession number
- 1937.7.12.5
In the catalog
Sources
- Harvard Art Museums
- Image: Harvard Art Museums — © President and Fellows of Harvard College
Meanwhile, in the life of John Singer Sargent
The whole lifeaged 13 (1869 – 1870)
Watercolour lessons with Carl Welsch
His mother reports that at thirteen John “sketches quite nicely” and has a remarkably quick and correct eye; at that age he receives some watercolour lessons from the German landscape painter Carl Welsch.
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”.
