Poster of the documentary film John Singer Sargent: Fashion&Swagger
Women in Blue by Beatrice Brandini
A documentary filmed between the rooms of the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston and those of the Tate Britain in London, will tell the story of the talent of an extraordinary painter who portrayed illustrious people, with a particularly clinical and informative eye in describing the fashion of his era.
Ena and Betty, Daughters of Asher and Mrs Wertheimer by John Singer Sargent, 1901
John Singer Sargent: Fashion and Swagger will be in cinemas from April 14, where curators, fashion enthusiasts and art historians will comment on the works of this artist from their point of view, underlining his sincere and incredible love for fashion.
Madame X by John Singer Sargent, 1883-84
Born in 1856 in Florence, to American parents, Singer was profoundly influenced by the museums, art galleries and churches that were part of his daily life in the Tuscan capital. Talented from an early age, he began his studies in Rome and then enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts in Florence and the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris.
Lady Agnew of Lochnaw by John Singer Sargent, 1892
His fame grows over the years, characterized by his sumptuous portraits with particular attention to painting fabrics and textures, which is why he will often be defined as the painter of fashion. His subjects were aristocrats, artists and prominent personalities of the time.
Mrs. Fiske Warren and Her Daughter Rachel by John Singer Sargent, 1903
Even London, at the Tate Britain, is dedicating an exhibition to him that will be visible until July 2024: Sargent and Fashion, where, from the title itself, the central theme will be his relationship with fashion.
A glimpse of the London exhibition
Sargent chose the clothes that his subjects would then wear, also because, through a dress, he was able to capture and express their personality. His portraits are in fact very beautiful but also different, almost bold, since it was the artist himself who not only dressed his subjects, but also decided how to present them to the public, with the type of pose and attitude they should have during the portrait.
Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth by John Singer Sargent, 1889 and Beetle Wing Dress for Lady Macbeth designed by Alice Laura Comyns Carr and Ada Cort Nettleship in 1888
He was considered one of the most significant portraitists of his era, the nineteenth century, a refined interpreter of opulence, portraying the worldly atmosphere of an aristocratic and privileged society, but with a modern style that never becomes mannerist.
Portrait of a Lady by John Singer Sargent
Portrait of Miss Elsie Parlmer (A lady in White) by John Singer Sargent, 1889-1890
John Singer Sargent has succeeded in the most difficult but also the most beautiful aim that his work can offer, namely that of combining his great passions, art and fashion. What I always sincerely wish for everyone.
Good life to everyone!
Beatrice