John Singer Sargent

Sargent’s notorious painting from his early period, Madame X (pictured), caused a great scandal at the Paris Salon of 1884, because the picture was found excessively erotic and suggestive. The model’s name was not given on the work, but Sargent’s depiction was so lifelike and unmistakable that the lady, Madame Gautreau, became a laughing stock. The artist fled to London from the negative press and the model’s mother, and stayed there for the rest of his life. With the success of Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose he rose to become the portrait painter of the rich and famous; high society simply adored his lavish and elegant style. Sargent gradually became the most famous portrait painter of his time. In his later years he changed subject and turned to landscapes. An exception was his huge canvas Gassed, which he made as an official war artist. The picture is one of the most moving, haunting and tragic paintings an artist has ever made about war.

From the page of Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose