La Carmencita by John Singer Sargent

John Singer Sargent
1856-1925 | American

La Carmencita

Stamped by artist's estate (en verso)
Oil on canvas

John Singer Sargent, widely regarded as one of history's most distinguished portraitists, created this captivating oil on canvas titled La Carmencita 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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 La Carmencita, 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. 

Painted 1890

Canvas: 28" high x 19" wide (71.12 x 48.26 cm)
Frame: 38" high x 29 1/2" wide x 3" deep (96.52 x 74.93 cm)

View the Dossier

Provenance:
Carmen “Carmencita” Dauset (possibly), from the artist, until her death in 1910
Collection of the artist, until his death in 1925
Sale: Christie’s London, John Singer Sargent’s Studio Sale, July 24, 1925, lot 119
Violet Ormond, the artist’s sister, purchased at the above sale
Jean-Louis Ormond, by descent from the above, 1955–1986
Harry and Brigitte Spiro, New York, 1987
Private collection, 1993
Private collection, New York
M.S. Rau, New Orleans

Literature:
William Howe Downes, John S. Sargent, His Life and Work (Boston: Little Brown, 1925 and London: Thornton Butterworth, 1926), p. 161
Evan Charteris, John Sargent (London: London Heinemann, 1927), p. 109; 262
The Sargent Trust List of Paintings and Drawings (London, 1927), p. 32, no. 4
Archibald Standish Hartrick, A Painter’s Pilgrimage, through Fifty Years (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 1939), p. 127
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
David McKibbin, Sargent’s Boston: With an Essay & a Biographical Summary & a Complete Check List of Sargent’s Portraits (Boston: Museum of Fine Arts, 1956), p. 87
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)

Exhibited:
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)
London, Carfax & Co., Loan Exhibition of Sketches and Studies by J.S. Sargent R.A., May – June, 1903, no. 29 (as Carmencita)
Edinburgh, Royal Scottish Academy, One Hundred and Second Annual Exhibition of the Royal Scottish Academy, April 21 – August 25, 1928, no. 207
New York, Coe Kerr Gallery, American Impressionism II, May 19 – June 23, 1989, no. 39 (illustrated)