Italian Villa [recto] 1870 - 1872

This pencil sketch titled ‘Italian Villa’ was created by John Singer Sargent. Sargent was an American expatriate artist, celebrated for his society portraits that captured the opulence of the Gilded Age. Here, we see a departure from those formal commissions as Sargent turns his gaze towards the Italian countryside. While he made a name for himself painting portraits of the wealthy elite, Sargent had a passion for landscapes, often creating them for his own pleasure. You can see in his technique here how Sargent, who spent much of his life in Europe, skillfully captures the light and atmosphere of the villa. This drawing gives us insight into Sargent's world and personal artistic pursuits, and it is a reminder that identity is multifaceted. Through this intimate sketch we come to know Sargent as a sensitive observer of light and nature.