Tate Britain hosts Sargent exhibition, offering a fresh perspective on the celebrated works of John Singer Sargent. Renowned for his captivating portrait paintings, this exhibition delves into Sargent’s unique approach to portraying his subjects, often individuals with whom he shared close ties.
Sargent wielded fashion as a potent tool for conveying identity and character. He meticulously curated the attire of his subjects or manipulated their clothing to suit his artistic vision. This bold manipulation of costume was integral to his artistic process—whether cinching a heavy coat tightly around a figure to accentuate its form or allowing a dress strap to languidly slip from a woman’s shoulder. Through these daring sartorial choices, Sargent imbued his portraits with his distinctive artistic vision.
Featuring nearly 60 of Sargent’s masterful paintings, including rarely exhibited major portraits, the exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the artist’s creative genius. Additionally, period garments worn by the sitters will be displayed alongside the portraits, providing further insight into Sargent’s innovative approach.
Lead support for the exhibition comes from a generous donation by the Blavatnik Family Foundation, with additional support from the Sargent and Fashion Exhibition Supporters Circle and the Tate Americas Foundation.
Organized jointly by Tate Britain and the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the exhibition has received generous backing from the Terra Foundation for American Art to facilitate international scholarly exchanges and support the exhibition’s presentation.
