The Secret of Success - John Singer Sargent’s Method

Perspectives from The Artist’s Road

Madame X John Singer Sargent

We are not unusual in our undying admiration for Sargent’s painting style and abilities. What is less well known about him was his unflagging generosity and support of other artists, both financially, when needed, and in time spent teaching his painting method to his students.

We have recently discovered a fascinating book published in 1927 about his life and letters simply titled, John Sargent by Evan Charteris. It sheds light on his approach to oil painting and to teaching as well. Sargent was famously cryptic about his methods, often appearing not to be able to put into words what he, by training and by instinct, knew how to do so naturally and quickly. His teacher, the great Carolus Duran, believed in painting alla prima, wet-into-wet, all at once, without laborious under-paintings typical of the era. All Sargent required was a light charcoal indication of the disposition of the model and the main masses before he would start right in applying thic…