DOI issue:
No. 83 (February, 1900)
DOI article:Baldry, Alfred Lys: The art of J. S. Sargent, R. A., [1]
DOI Page / Citation link:https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19784#0017
John S. Sargent, fc.A.
by that country in ever increasing numbers. As yet, bringing the American mind under the influence
perhaps, America cannot be said to have a national of the art creed that in one or other of its
school or to have so formulated its artistic beliefs various forms is generally accepted in Europe,
that the character of its art, as a whole, has be- There is Mr. Whistler, with his superlative
come completely and unquestionably individual, craftsmanship, and his exquisitely sensitive appre-
but the men who have come from there have ciation of refinements of colour and tone, an ob-
distinguished themselves by their remarkable readi- servant genius, who has always known exactly
ness to profit by the traditions of European res- how to use the example of the great masters
theticism, and by the originality with which they of the past to help the development of his
have applied the teaching that they have obtained own originality. There is Mr. Boughton, whose
in the Old World. artistic method was born in America, trained in
There are in England many conspicuous France, and matured in England, and retains
instances of the results that may be gained by to-day something that is reminiscent of each
of the countries that has contributed to his
equipment. We have also Mr. Abbey, who
may, without exaggeration, be said to be the
greatest black and white draughtsman among
modern men, as well as a decorative colourist
of sincere, and sturdy inventiveness ; and we
are closely in touch with that large group
of American artists who have settled in Paris,
and from there send constantly to our chief
exhibitions examples of pictorial production
that are invariably conspicuous for manly
directness, and for a characteristically in-
genious adaptation of the principles that with
little modification have governed for centuries
the practice of European schools.
In some respects, however, the most typical
illustration of the alliance between the keen
intuition and quick receptivity of the New
World and the carefully considered and long
established beliefs of the Old is provided
by the pictures of Mr. J. S. Sargent. He
has the brilliancy and happy audacity of the
pioneer, the readiness to face difficulties and
to attack complicated problems that is charac-
teristic of a race full of youthful energy, but
he has acquired also the sense of style and
the respect for established authorities that
come from close and careful observation of
what has been done by the nations among
which artistic creeds have been elaborately
built up by a slow process of gradual con-
struction. His instincts are essentially
American, but his methods declare emphati-
cally the part that Europe has played in his
training. Among all his compatriots he
stands out as at once the most original and
the most efficiently equipped in a company
that numbers many men of real distinction ;
and he holds his place, not by some vagary
portrait of w. graham Robertson, esq. of passing fashion, but honestly and securely
iiy j. s. sargent, r.a. by right of conquest.
by that country in ever increasing numbers. As yet, bringing the American mind under the influence
perhaps, America cannot be said to have a national of the art creed that in one or other of its
school or to have so formulated its artistic beliefs various forms is generally accepted in Europe,
that the character of its art, as a whole, has be- There is Mr. Whistler, with his superlative
come completely and unquestionably individual, craftsmanship, and his exquisitely sensitive appre-
but the men who have come from there have ciation of refinements of colour and tone, an ob-
distinguished themselves by their remarkable readi- servant genius, who has always known exactly
ness to profit by the traditions of European res- how to use the example of the great masters
theticism, and by the originality with which they of the past to help the development of his
have applied the teaching that they have obtained own originality. There is Mr. Boughton, whose
in the Old World. artistic method was born in America, trained in
There are in England many conspicuous France, and matured in England, and retains
instances of the results that may be gained by to-day something that is reminiscent of each
of the countries that has contributed to his
equipment. We have also Mr. Abbey, who
may, without exaggeration, be said to be the
greatest black and white draughtsman among
modern men, as well as a decorative colourist
of sincere, and sturdy inventiveness ; and we
are closely in touch with that large group
of American artists who have settled in Paris,
and from there send constantly to our chief
exhibitions examples of pictorial production
that are invariably conspicuous for manly
directness, and for a characteristically in-
genious adaptation of the principles that with
little modification have governed for centuries
the practice of European schools.
In some respects, however, the most typical
illustration of the alliance between the keen
intuition and quick receptivity of the New
World and the carefully considered and long
established beliefs of the Old is provided
by the pictures of Mr. J. S. Sargent. He
has the brilliancy and happy audacity of the
pioneer, the readiness to face difficulties and
to attack complicated problems that is charac-
teristic of a race full of youthful energy, but
he has acquired also the sense of style and
the respect for established authorities that
come from close and careful observation of
what has been done by the nations among
which artistic creeds have been elaborately
built up by a slow process of gradual con-
struction. His instincts are essentially
American, but his methods declare emphati-
cally the part that Europe has played in his
training. Among all his compatriots he
stands out as at once the most original and
the most efficiently equipped in a company
that numbers many men of real distinction ;
and he holds his place, not by some vagary
portrait of w. graham Robertson, esq. of passing fashion, but honestly and securely
iiy j. s. sargent, r.a. by right of conquest.