Celebrated for his striking portrait paintings, this exhibition sheds new light on John Singer Sargent’s acclaimed works. It explores how he worked like a stylist to craft the image of the sitters he painted, who he often had close relationships with.
Sargent used fashion as a powerful tool to express identity and personality. He regularly chose the outfits of his collaborators or manipulated their clothing. This innovative use of costume was central to his artwork – for example, tugging a heavy coat tighter around a man to emphasise his figure or letting a dress strap sensuously slip from a woman’s shoulder. It was these daring sartorial choices that allowed him to express his vision as an artist.
Almost 60 of Sargent’s paintings will be on display, including major portraits that rarely travel. Several period garments will also be showcased alongside the portraits they were worn in. The show examines how this remarkable painter used fashion to create portraits of the time, which still captivate today.
Lead support with a generous donation from the Blavatnik Family Foundation. Additional support from the Sargent and Fashion Exhibition Supporters Circle and Tate Americas Foundation.
Organised by Tate Britain and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Both MFA Boston and Tate Britain received generous support for international scholarly convenings and for the exhibition from the Terra Foundation for American Art
John Singer Sargent Madame X (Madame Pierre Gautreau) 1883–1884 Lent by The Metropolitan Museum of Art, Arthur Hoppock Hearn Fund, 1916 (16.53)
John Singer Sargent Portrait of Miss Elsie Palmer (A Lady in White) 1889–1890 Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center (Colorado Springs, USA)
John Singer Sargent Lady Helen Vincent, Viscountess d'Abernon 1904 Collection of the Birmingham Museum of Art, Alabama; Museum purchase with funds provided by John Bohorfoush, the 1984 Museum Dinner and Ball, and the Museum Store, 1984.121
John Singer Sargent Dr. Pozzi at Home 1881 The Armand Hammer Collection, Gift of the Armand Hammer Foundation. Hammer Museum, Los Angeles.
John Singer Sargent Portrait of Ena Wertheimer: A Vele Gonfie 1904 Tate Bequeathed by Robert Mathias 1996
John Singer Sargent La Carmencita circa 1890 Musée d'Orsay (Paris, France)
John Singer Sargent Vernon Lee 1881 Tate Bequeathed by Miss Vernon Lee through Miss Cooper Willis 1935
John Singer Sargent Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose 1885-6 Tate Presented by the Trustees of the Chantrey Bequest 1887
John Singer Sargent Nonchaloir (Repose) 1911 National Gallery of Art, Washington, Gift of Curt H. Reisinger, 1948.16.1
John Singer Sargent Miss Priestley c.1889 Tate Presented by Miss Emily Sargent in memory of her brother through the Art Fund 1929
