John Singer Sargent : the sensualist / Trevor Fairbrother

Introducing a complicated individual -- A prodigious talent, a sensual eye -- Portraits with a flair for theater -- ntriguing bodies -- Places of distraction, respite and delight -- Unraveling the paradoxes -- Album of figure studies.

The art of John Singer Sargent is extraordinarily sensual. The paintings depict and celebrate sources of pleasure - enchanting places, intriguing objects, and striking individuals. In this book, Trevor Fairbrother argues that viewing the artist as a sensualist connects otherwise conflicting elements of his oeuvre and offers a new interpretation of his life and work. Fairbrother discusses the complex currents in Sargent's life, analyzes how these shaped his work, and shows how his skills as a draftsman formed the foundation for his rapid, broadly brushed painting style. The book is lavishly illustrated with numerous examples of Sargent's oils, watercolors, and sketches - in particular his portraits and studies of models and dancers - that amply demonstrate the sensual aspect of his art.

English