Art Appreciation: John Singer Sargent: At Once Modern and Classic

As Tate Britain puts on a show about Sargent and fashion, it is the perfect occasion to discover the life and career of this extraordinary painter. American, he lived in Italy, in France and mainly in England, where he became a sought-after portrait painter. But there is much more to Sargent than his portraits of wealthy patrons. We will also discover some of his impressionist paintings and his watercolours. In portraits as in landscapes, he always comes across as a brilliant painter. In this 2-hour session, you will learn about the main stages of his life and career. We will single out some of his masterpieces but also will look at lesser-known works of art. We will also pay attention to his manner of painting, his colours and brushstrokes. Finally, we will place him within his social and artistic context and understand his place in the history of art, at once modern and classic, defying easy classifications.