John Singer Sargent was just 18 when he arrived in Paris in 1874. In the next decade, he started his career as a painter. He showed his work and won awards at different places.
His travels during this time had a big impact on his work. They also helped him make connections that would support his career. He met fancy people, athletes, people with money, writers like Henry James, and artists like Monet, Renoir, and Rodin.
A new show at the Metropolitan Museum of Art features these relationships and more. The show is set up in a simple way, with sections like “In the Studio,” “Beyond the Studio,” and “Fascinating Portraits.” But the artworks speak for themselves. The first two sections focus on Sargent’s training, especially with the French portrait painter Carolus-Duran.
They also look at his trips around Europe and North Africa. His early works, like “The Dancing Faun, After the Antique” from 1873–74, show he was still learning. But others like “A Male Model Standing before a Stove” from around 1875–80 hint at his talent for capturing people as individuals.
In “Portrait of Frances Sherborne Ridley Watts” from 1877, Sargent shows a family friend moving in her seat. The buttons on her dress wind around her body. His skill shines through in works like “The Sulphur Match” from 1882.
The people in it are more than just symbols. They are full of tender details. Sargent was really good at painting hands.
Opening at the Met
In “Dr. Pozzi at Home” from 1881, the doctor’s hands grab his clothes and spread out with energy.
In the portrait of Madame Ramón Subercaseaux from 1880, one hand holds the chair while the other is about to slip off piano keys. This shows Sargent’s ability to capture passing moments in life. His portraits of children, like “Edouard and Marie-Louise Pailleron” from 1880, show he understood their unique views.
The strong gaze of 11-year-old Marie-Louise tells us about her determined personality. This was true even though she sat for the painting many times and argued about how to pose. The show ends with “Madame X” — likely Sargent’s greatest work.
This portrait, displayed at the Paris Salon in 1884, caused a scandal that may have led Sargent to leave the city. The simple background and the subject’s bold pose highlight her beauty. They show Sargent’s gift for capturing a person’s individuality.
The show is at the Metropolitan Museum of Art through August 3. It will then go to the Musée d’Orsay in Paris from September 23 through January 11, 2026. Stephanie L.
Herdrich, Caroline Corbeau-Parsons, and Paul Perrin were the curators, with help from Caroline Elenowitz-Hess. There will also be a related show called “Emily Sargent: Portrait of a Family” at the Metropolitan Museum of Art from July 1 through March 8, 2026. This exhibition shows John Singer Sargent’s skill at painting not just how people looked, but who they were.
He captured the beautiful details that made each person unique.
