Antonio Mancini 1902

John Singer Sargent painted this portrait of Antonio Mancini, probably in oil, sometime in the late 19th century. You can tell the process was pretty immediate, even impatient. Look at the brushwork, it's alive! The texture of the paint is thick in places, especially around the face and hands, giving Mancini a real presence. I love the way Sargent uses these ochre yellows and browns, playing light against dark to create form. It's not overly detailed, but you get a sense of the guy, right? My eye keeps going back to the hand holding the paintbrush. It feels like Sargent is saying something about the act of painting itself. The loose, gestural marks feel almost like a conversation between the two artists. Sargent clearly admired Mancini, maybe saw a kindred spirit. I see echoes of Velazquez in the way Sargent builds up the form with such confidence, each stroke loaded with information, but open to interpretation. Painting is so cool, right?