GENERAL DESCRIPTION
Dorothy Williamson was the granddaughter of George Millar Williamson, one of John Singer Sargent's first American patrons. Sargent painted Dorothy's portrait in London in 1900, at the height of his career as a society portrait painter. The following year it was exhibited at the Society of American Artists in New York. The New York Times critic wrote, "The portraits are many and good, led easily by little Miss 'Dorothy' in the Vanderbilt Gallery. . . . Seen near by, the red paint on the lips, the white paint on the little girl's hat seem quite misplaced, but as one steps back a bit the magic stroke takes place, the red lips are all right, the white ribbon is just right."
This charming portrait of a girl was painted by Sargent in 1900 when he was at the peak of his reputation and powers as an international portraitist. Unlike such famous "grand manner" productions as the The Wyndham Sisters: Lady Elcho, Mrs. Adeane, and Mrs. Tennant (1899, Metropolitan Museum of Art) and The Marlborough Family (1904-1905, Private Collection), however, this work is intimate in mood and direct in approach. With the stylistic spontaneity and verve that made him famous, Sargent has captured not only the look but the youthful spirit of his sitter. After drawing a few lines in charcoal to set the figure, Sargent composed the features of his sitter with a loaded brush, capturing the little girl's direct, almost solemn gaze and bringing life and sparkle to the likeness with deft highlights and touches of color. Form is rendered with summarizing bold strokes and a broad application of color that create a vivid and dynamic image much in the mode of Edouard Manet, who was so important an influence. Especially notable for its swift, broad painterly treatment (for which Sargent was indebted to both the Impressionists and the realist artist Carolus-Duran) and Sargent's inimitable bravura brushwork, this painting lends a forceful immediacy to the handsomely-dressed little girl.
Adapted from
- Anne Bromberg, DMA object descriptions (1982.35), 1987, Education files.
- William Keyse Rudolph, DMA label copy (1982.35), May 2006.
- Steven Nash, DMA Acquisition proposal (1982.35), 1982.
- DMA curatorial remarks in electronic record, n.d.
NOTES
Added artist geographies to TMS- see artist biography draft for online content.
Carolus-Duran is the preferred name format shown in ULAN.
I did not add this information to the constituent record, but it could be added to TMS at a later date-- Sitter- Dorothy Williamson Byer (Mrs. Vernon F. Byer) resided with husband in St. Petersburg, FL around 1965 (based on correspondence from the St. Petersburg Museum in the Collections Records Object File).
The correspondence also mentions a reproduction etching that was donated to their museum by a F (or L.) Johnson. I did not have time to search for this print. [Update from Sue, Feb 2017- Francesca contacted St. Pete and recieved a copy of this etching. Sue said permissions probably means it can't be used online, but she saved in object file.]
Add text entry to TMS:
Anne Bromberg, DMA object descriptions (1982.35), Education files, 1987
A brilliantly vivid portrait of the daughter of a wealthy American book collector, painted while Sargent was at the height of his career in London, as a society portrait painter. Especially notable for its swift, broad painterly treatment (for which Sargent was indebted to both the Impressionists and the realist artist Carolus-Duran) and for Sargent's inimitable bravura brushwork - all of which lend a forceful immediacy to the handsomely-dressed little girl. Like Copley, Sargent was supposed to be expert in entertaining his sitters.
This note was routed and reviewed and Sue's edits have been added to Evernote. I am removing the routed tag and adding the completed tag because the GDoc has been moved to Queta's folders for review.
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
oil
canvas
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
brush strokes
girl
hat
sitting
white
dress
pink
portrait
commission
necklace
cloth
ruffle
pyramidal
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
By 1901: George Millar Williamson (1849-1921, father of the sitter), Sparkhill, NY
After 1921: private collection, thence by descent from the above
As of 1965: Mrs. Vernon F. Beyer [1]
As of 1981: Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc. [2]
From 1982: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, gift from Leland Fikes Foundation, Inc. (purchased from the Valley House Gallery Inc. and Hirschl & Adler Galleries) [3]
[1] From the credit line published in the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Florida "Inaugural Exhibition," February 7-March 7, 1965, no. 30, illustrated.
[2] Appeared in the following auction- "American Impressionist and 20th century Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture" December 10, 1981, Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc. Sale 4755M, Lot 46.
[3] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
AUDIO ASSETS
Art Everywhere - John Singer Sargent, Dorothy - with Music. Description: Audio content produced for the Art Everywhere US Blippar app, 2014. 36477544: UMO
Art Everywhere - John Singer Sargent, Dorothy - NO Music. Description: Audio content produced for the Art Everywhere US Blippar app, 2014. 36477535: UMO
Martha MacLeod, gallery talk, March 2015
Emily Schiller, gallery talk, 8/12/2015.
251965412: UMO
Warren Adelson, "John Singer Sargent," lecture 2001.
Description: speaker is director of Adelson Galleries, New York; discusses catalogue raisonne; Antique Arts Society presentation?
Location: Orientation Theater
13314436: UMO
13314644: UMO
VIDEO ASSETS
IMAGE ASSETS
WEB RESOURCES
- Sargent, Carnation, Lily, Lily Rose (1885-1886)~Watch Khan Academy's video about another of Sargent's paintings depicting young girls.
- Sargent, The Wyndham Sisters: Lady Elcho, Mrs. Adeane, and Mrs. Tennant (1899, Metropolitan Museum of Art)~See an example of Sargent's Grand Manner approach to portraiture.
- Sargent, The Marlborough Family (1904-1905, Private Collection)~See an example of Sargent's Grand Manner approach to portraiture.
ARCHIVAL RESOURCES
FUN FACTS
- Like the prestigious Colonial American portraitist John Singleton Copley, Sargent had a reputation as an expert in entertaining his sitters.
TEACHING IDEAS
RULES
Apply to objects where number equals 1982.35
Category
rules_operator
AND
General Description
Dorothy Williamson was the granddaughter of George Millar Williamson, one of John Singer Sargent's first American patrons. Sargent painted Dorothy's portrait in London in 1900, at the height of his career as a society portrait painter. The following year it was exhibited at the Society of American Artists in New York. The New York Times critic wrote, "The portraits are many and good, led easily by little Miss 'Dorothy' in the Vanderbilt Gallery. . . . Seen near by, the red paint on the lips, the white paint on the little girl's hat seem quite misplaced, but as one steps back a bit the magic stroke takes place, the red lips are all right, the white ribbon is just right."
This charming portrait of a girl was painted by Sargent in 1900 when he was at the peak of his reputation and powers as an international portraitist. Unlike such famous "grand manner" productions as the The Wyndham Sisters: Lady Elcho, Mrs. Adeane, and Mrs. Tennant (1899, Metropolitan Museum of Art) and The Marlborough Family (1904-1905, Private Collection), however, this work is intimate in mood and direct in approach. With the stylistic spontaneity and verve that made him famous, Sargent has captured not only the look but the youthful spirit of his sitter. After drawing a few lines in charcoal to set the figure, Sargent composed the features of his sitter with a loaded brush, capturing the little girl's direct, almost solemn gaze and bringing life and sparkle to the likeness with deft highlights and touches of color. Form is rendered with summarizing bold strokes and a broad application of color that create a vivid and dynamic image much in the mode of Edouard Manet, who was so important an influence. Especially notable for its swift, broad painterly treatment (for which Sargent was indebted to both the Impressionists and the realist artist Carolus-Duran) and Sargent's inimitable bravura brushwork, this painting lends a forceful immediacy to the handsomely-dressed little girl.
Adapted from
- Anne Bromberg, DMA object descriptions (1982.35), 1987, Education files.
- William Keyse Rudolph, DMA label copy (1982.35), May 2006.
- Steven Nash, DMA Acquisition proposal (1982.35), 1982.
- DMA curatorial remarks in electronic record, n.d.
Fun Facts
- Like the prestigious Colonial American portraitist John Singleton Copley, Sargent had a reputation as an expert in entertaining his sitters.
Archival Resources
Web Resources
- Sargent, Carnation, Lily, Lily Rose (1885-1886)~Watch Khan Academy's video about another of Sargent's paintings depicting young girls.
- Sargent, The Wyndham Sisters: Lady Elcho, Mrs. Adeane, and Mrs. Tennant (1899, Metropolitan Museum of Art)~See an example of Sargent's Grand Manner approach to portraiture.
- Sargent, The Marlborough Family (1904-1905, Private Collection)~See an example of Sargent's Grand Manner approach to portraiture.
Notes
Added artist geographies to TMS- see artist biography draft for online content.
Carolus-Duran is the preferred name format shown in ULAN.
I did not add this information to the constituent record, but it could be added to TMS at a later date-- Sitter- Dorothy Williamson Byer (Mrs. Vernon F. Byer) resided with husband in St. Petersburg, FL around 1965 (based on correspondence from the St. Petersburg Museum in the Collections Records Object File).
The correspondence also mentions a reproduction etching that was donated to their museum by a F (or L.) Johnson. I did not have time to search for this print. [Update from Sue, Feb 2017- Francesca contacted St. Pete and recieved a copy of this etching. Sue said permissions probably means it can't be used online, but she saved in object file.]
Add text entry to TMS:
Anne Bromberg, DMA object descriptions (1982.35), Education files, 1987
A brilliantly vivid portrait of the daughter of a wealthy American book collector, painted while Sargent was at the height of his career in London, as a society portrait painter. Especially notable for its swift, broad painterly treatment (for which Sargent was indebted to both the Impressionists and the realist artist Carolus-Duran) and for Sargent's inimitable bravura brushwork - all of which lend a forceful immediacy to the handsomely-dressed little girl. Like Copley, Sargent was supposed to be expert in entertaining his sitters.
This note was routed and reviewed and Sue's edits have been added to Evernote. I am removing the routed tag and adding the completed tag because the GDoc has been moved to Queta's folders for review.
Artist/designers
Cultures
Geography
Process/materials
oil
canvas
Historical periods
Individuals
Subject terms
brush strokes
girl
hat
sitting
white
dress
pink
portrait
commission
necklace
cloth
ruffle
pyramidal
RELATED OBJECTS
PROVENANCE
By 1901: George Millar Williamson (1849-1921, father of the sitter), Sparkhill, NY
After 1921: private collection, thence by descent from the above
As of 1965: Mrs. Vernon F. Beyer [1]
As of 1981: Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc. [2]
From 1982: Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, gift from Leland Fikes Foundation, Inc. (purchased from the Valley House Gallery Inc. and Hirschl & Adler Galleries) [3]
[1] From the credit line published in the Museum of Fine Arts, St. Petersburg, Florida "Inaugural Exhibition," February 7-March 7, 1965, no. 30, illustrated.
[2] Appeared in the following auction- "American Impressionist and 20th century Paintings, Drawings, and Sculpture" December 10, 1981, Sotheby Parke Bernet Inc. Sale 4755M, Lot 46.
[3] The name of the Dallas Museum of Fine Arts, founded in 1933, was changed to the Dallas Museum of Art in 1983.
AUDIO ASSETS
Art Everywhere - John Singer Sargent, Dorothy - with Music. Description: Audio content produced for the Art Everywhere US Blippar app, 2014. 36477544: UMO
Art Everywhere - John Singer Sargent, Dorothy - NO Music. Description: Audio content produced for the Art Everywhere US Blippar app, 2014. 36477535: UMO
Martha MacLeod, gallery talk, March 2015
Emily Schiller, gallery talk, 8/12/2015.
251965412: UMO
Warren Adelson, "John Singer Sargent," lecture 2001.
Description: speaker is director of Adelson Galleries, New York; discusses catalogue raisonne; Antique Arts Society presentation?
Location: Orientation Theater
13314436: UMO
13314644: UMO
VIDEO ASSETS
rules
Apply To
Objects
number
Equals
1982.35
source file
object_notes_2_b-0367.xml.nores