Tuesday, July 28, 2009

statue portrait

Garden near Lucca, water-colour by John Singer Sargent 1910

To live with Sargents water-colours is to live with sunshine captured and held, with the luster of a bright and legible world, ‘the refluent shade’ and ‘the Ambient ardours of the noon.’”


This has to be one of my favorite water-colours by Sargent. 

( Mind you this is one of 2,000 paintings.)

I never tire his use of color, shadow and the looseness of brush.

I love the way this garden statue has been captured and cascade of flowers 

trailing down.  Did you ever think a statue could be treated like a portrait?

25 comments:

Simply Mel {Reverie} said...

Definitely one of our favorite artists of all time...Sargent can do no wrong in our world!

We travel the globe far and wide just to see his works in museums and private collections.

P.Gaye Tapp at Little Augury said...

pve- It seems Sargent was freed with the watercolors-not the rigors of the portrait aimed to please the sitter- perhaps. I too am a lover of his work- and it is interesting to see them- scalewise especially. This one is lovely.la

We Blog Artists said...

WOW...you're a true talent...as I always saw, breathtaking...I very much love the light and colours on the portrait of the statue.
Char

Purple Flowers said...

I love the angle that he painted of the statute. There is so much to look at everytime you look at it. He is one of my all time favorite Artists.

Slices of Beauty... said...

Almost edible, lovely!

pve design said...

Mel,
If you find yourself in NY, then we must go the Met!
pve

la-
exactly. painting a statue, but breathing life into it with watercolor makes it all the more lovely.
pve

Char-
Please note, that this is the work of John Singer Sargent. I am studying his work for the light.
pve

Purple-
I love his work, and his perspective.
Things on angles are much more interesting.
pve

Kalee said...

I love that your post is about one of Sargent's watercolours, most people don't even realize what a master he was in this medium and that working with watercolours is so much more difficult than oils. Great post and love our mutual love for Sargent!

Shandell's said...

Sargent's watercolors are wonderful. A medium that I love. They seem effortless.

Formerly known as Frau said...

Beautiful! I really love statues and fountains now that I have been exposed to so many in our travels.

Swetha said...

Its so beautiful!!

Mindy Lockard Etiquette said...

Ahhh, Sargent! I deeply admire those who have mastered the medium of watercolor as it takes an incredible amount of forethought and brush control. I find the angle and warm light of this piece so interesting. Thank you for sharing.

Kwana said...

It's beautiful. Love the light.

Michelle said...

Love this...I thought it was your work at first!

Last trip to Amsterdam, I sketched and painted a statue in Vondelpark...

Lori said...

I love the blue sky

littlebyrd said...

Beautiful colors and unique angle! No, I guess I had never thought about statues as portraits - I like it :)

Summer is a Verb said...

The blue!!! I think it's now one of my favs as well...XXOO

annechovie said...

Amazing!! He is one of my enduring favorites. His work is easy to spot because his style and skill set him apart. Love it!

A Gift Wrapped Life said...

It is fabulous isn't it? Show us more. XO

Easy and Elegant Life said...

Statues as portraits... sure... I live in Richmond, VA where it is practically a law that a house displays at least one watercolour of the statue of Robert E. Lee...

But Sargent's they are not! This one is a beaut. No surprise.

Unknown said...

I've always loved Sargent's work, particularly his watercolors, his use of color and the detail are amazing. I remember my mom dragging me to the Met when I was a little girl specifically to see his works. The background color in this painting is lovely.

I'm so happy you posted this!
Amy

Debra said...

Anything Lucca has my attention. Isn't this fabulous? Sargent is a favorite.

home before dark said...

Sargent is to art as Mozart is to music: fluid, facile, genius. I can't imagine having that talent at my fingertips.

Good hunting with the light studies. What a lovely subject to explore. On the opposite light spectrum. Did you hear the one about Sarah Palin is "all glasses and no vision?"

Joyce said...

I can see how this one is one of many favorites. The colors are bright and rich. I too like the angle he painted this statue. He was ahead of his time. xoxo

Anonymous said...

Oh, absolutely yes a statue can be the subject of a portrait! I have a small statue (about 18" tall) from Italy that was my great-grandmother's. I've been eyeing it for years and planning to paint it when my skills are able to do it justice. (And Oh That Sargent, Oh Yes).

kadler said...

That's stunning. Love it.