All Ave Maria 1907

John Singer Sargent made this evocative watercolour called All Ave Maria, and what strikes me immediately is the open airiness of it. I wonder about the moment when Sargent was working; did he have to make the most of a fleeting experience, or did he linger, trying to get it just right? The composition pulls you into a light-filled architectural space, and the painting's surface seems thin, almost transparent, as if trying to capture the shimmering essence of the place. I can imagine him, quickly, deliberately dabbing the paper with a wet brush, letting the water do its thing, creating those soft edges and unpredictable textures. The dark figures, placed against the light, provide a stark contrast, anchoring the composition while allowing the eye to wander through the pale blues and whites of the building and sky. It reminds me of the work of other painters like Turner, who sought to capture the sublime effects of light and atmosphere. The legacy of painting is an ongoing conversation, right? We all get something from each other.