{"title":"John Singer Sargent Portraits","description":"\u003ch2\u003eJohn Singer Sargent Portraits\u003c\/h2\u003e\u003cp\u003eJohn Singer Sargent remains one of the great portraitists of his era, celebrated for his effortless command of likeness, movement and painterly sophistication. This collection of Sargent portraits highlights works that show why his name remains synonymous with elegance and technical brilliance.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eCollectors drawn to portraiture, Gilded Age style and Anglo-American painting will find in these works a rich meeting of confidence and nuance. Explore portraits that reveal Sargent's extraordinary ability to animate the sitter through light, stance and surface.\u003c\/p\u003e","products":[{"product_id":"la-carmencita-by-john-singer-sargent","title":"La Carmencita by John Singer Sargent","description":"John Singer Sargent\u003cbr\u003e 1856-1925 | American \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003cem\u003eLa Carmencita\u003c\/em\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Stamped by artist's estate (en verso)\u003cbr\u003e Oil on canvas \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e John Singer Sargent, widely regarded as one of history's most distinguished portraitists, created this captivating oil on canvas titled \u003cem\u003eLa Carmencita\u003c\/em\u003e in 1890, the height of his astonishing career. This portrait masterfully captures the dynamic energy and magnetic allure of the renowned Spanish dancer Carmen Dauset, known as La Carmencita. The painting exemplifies Sargent’s unparalleled ability to combine his technical virtuoso with profound emotional depth. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In this remarkable composition, Sargent masterfully employs light and shadow to create a sense of movement and vibrancy. La Carmencita is captured mid-performance, her figure animated with the energy and grace that made her an international sensation. The stark contrast between her pale skin and dark hair, accentuated by the vibrant red rose in her hair and the shimmer of her fringed shawl, draws the viewer’s eye and underscores her dynamic presence. Sargent’s minimalist background further enhances the focus on La Carmencita, allowing her expressive features and lively posture to dominate the composition. The careful interplay of colors and the fluidity of Sargent’s brushstrokes bring the portrait to life, making it a true masterpiece of movement and expression. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e La Carmencita was a trailblazing dancer who captivated audiences on both sides of the Atlantic. According to film historian Charles Musser, she was the first woman to appear in a modern motion picture made for commercial purposes and may have been the earliest female to feature in any motion picture. Her performances were characterized by a fiery passion and a magnetic presence, qualities that Sargent skillfully captured in this portrait. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e In 1890, Sargent and Isabella Stewart Gardner arranged a gathering at William Merritt Chase’s Tenth Street studio, where La Carmencita performed for their circle of friends. Sargent then persuaded the dancer to sit for several studio sessions, resulting in two oil paintings and a series of drawings. These works culminated in the renowned full-length portrait that now resides in the Musée d’Orsay. Among Sargent’s many dance-themed works, the d’Orsay’s La Carmencita was called “the picture of the year” when it was shown in London in 1891. Our portrait, with its up-close focus and vivid depiction of movement, is a much more intimate glimpse of Sargent's fascination with this exceptional muse. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e While the full-length composition traveled to France, the present portrait almost certainly remained fondly in the collection of La Carmencita herself until she died in 1910. It then returned to Sargent who kept it until his death. When the artist’s personal collection was sold at Christie's in 1925, our painting was bought by the artist’s sister, Violet Ormond, who knew of her brother’s love for the work, and it remained in her family until 1986. La Carmencita was exhibited widely, most notably in Boston’s Copley Hall in 1899 and the Royal Scottish Academy in 1928. The painting has also been well-represented in major publications. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Born in Florence to American parents, John Singer Sargent displayed exceptional artistic talent from a young age. He trained in Paris under the tutelage of the great Émile Auguste Carolus-Duran, whose influence helped shape Sargent's distinctive style—a blend of realism with a modernist flair. By the time Sargent painted \u003cem\u003eLa Carmencita\u003c\/em\u003e, he had already established himself as one of the premier portraitists of the late 19th century, known for his ability to capture the essence of his subjects with unparalleled precision. Today, he is widely regarded as one of the greatest painters in history, with works represented in major collections including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Metropolitan Museum of Art.  \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Painted 1890 \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Canvas: 28\" high x 19\" wide (71.12 x 48.26 cm)\u003cbr\u003e Frame: 38\" high x 29 1\/2\" wide x 3\" deep (96.52 x 74.93 cm) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e \u003ca href=\"https:\/\/rau-sfimages.s3.amazonaws.com\/dossier\/Dossier_31-9763.pdf\" target=\"new\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eView the Dossier\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/a\u003e \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e This painting was exhibited at The European Fine Art Fair. \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Provenance:\u003cbr\u003e Carmen “Carmencita” Dauset (possibly), from the artist, until her death in 1910\u003cbr\u003e Collection of the artist, until his death in 1925\u003cbr\u003e Sale: Christie’s London, John Singer Sargent’s Studio Sale, July 24, 1925, lot 119\u003cbr\u003e Violet Ormond, the artist’s sister, purchased at the above sale\u003cbr\u003e Jean-Louis Ormond, by descent from the above, 1955–1986\u003cbr\u003e Harry and Brigitte Spiro, New York, 1987\u003cbr\u003e Private collection, 1993\u003cbr\u003e Private collection, New York\u003cbr\u003e M.S. Rau, New Orleans \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Literature:\u003cbr\u003e William Howe Downes, John S. Sargent, His Life and Work (Boston: Little Brown, 1925 and London: Thornton Butterworth, 1926), p. 161\u003cbr\u003e Evan Charteris, John Sargent (London: London Heinemann, 1927), p. 109; 262\u003cbr\u003e The Sargent Trust List of Paintings and Drawings (London, 1927), p. 32, no. 4\u003cbr\u003e Archibald Standish Hartrick, A Painter’s Pilgrimage, through Fifty Years (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1939), p. 127\u003cbr\u003e Charles Merrill Mount, John Singer Sargent: A Biography (New York: Norton, 1955 and London: Cresset Press, 1957 and New York: Kraus, 1969), p. 432, no. 909\u003cbr\u003e David McKibbin, Sargent’s Boston: With an Essay \u0026amp; a Biographical Summary \u0026amp; a Complete Check List of Sargent’s Portraits (Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1956), p. 87\u003cbr\u003e Richard Ormond and Elaine Kilmurray, John Singer Sargent: Portraits of the 1890s, Complete Paintings, Volume II (New Haven and London: Yale University Press, 2002), p. 23 – 24, no. 236 (illustrated) \u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e Exhibited:\u003cbr\u003e Boston, MA, Copley Hall, Paintings and Sketches by John Singer Sargent, R.A., February 20 – March 13, 1899, p. 15, no. 69 (as Sketch of Carmencita Singing)\u003cbr\u003e London, Carfax \u0026amp; Co., Loan Exhibition of Sketches and Studies by J.S. Sargent R.A., May – June, 1903, no. 29 (as Carmencita)\u003cbr\u003e Edinburgh, Royal Scottish Academy, One Hundred and Second Annual Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy, April 21 – August 25, 1928, no. 207\u003cbr\u003e New York, Coe Kerr Gallery, American Impressionism II, May 19 – June 23, 1989, no. 39 (illustrated)","brand":"M.S. Rau","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":44050950193287,"sku":"31-9763","price":1785000.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0083\/2471\/0466\/files\/31-9763_1.png?v=1774966645"}],"url":"https:\/\/rauantiques.com\/collections\/john-singer-sargent-portraits.oembed","provider":"M.S. Rau","version":"1.0","type":"link"}