Collection inventory

Overview of the Collection
Creator:	Sargent, John Singer, 1856-1925.
Title:	John Singer Sargent Letters
Inclusive Dates:	1895-1923
Quantity:	45 letters (SC)
Abstract:	The papers of the American artist consist of outgoing letters (Wilfrid Ashley, Lawrence Barnett, Walter Berry, Mrs. John Fuller-Maitland, George Henschel, Mrs. Colin Hunter, William Kendall, Blanche Marchesi, Alice Meynell, S. Weir Mitchell, Mrs. J.P. Morgan, Edward Poynter, and Mrs. Hall Walker), mostly of a personal nature, in which Sargent discusses his work, responds to social invitations, and makes appointments with various of his patrons for sittings.
Language:	English
Repository:	Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Avenue Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center

Biographical History

Born in Florence, Italy, the son of an American physician, John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) studied painting there and in Paris, where he first gained attention at the Salon with Madame X (1884). Most of his work, such as Lord Ribblesdale (1902, National Gallery, London), was, however, executed in England from 1885, where he became the most fashionable and elegant portrait painter of his age. To this period belongs his well-known Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose (1885-86, Tate, London). In 1907 he exhibited with the English artists at the Venice Biennale. His early painting shows a French Impressionist influence, but Spanish art had a more lasting effect and Carmencita is perhaps the best example of this. Visiting the United States constantly, he worked on portraits and series of decorative paintings for public buildings, such as The Evolution of Religion for Boston Library (1889-c.1915). He also painted landscapes, especially in later life, and often in watercolour. He was an official war artist in World War I, producing Gassed (1818, Imperial War Museum, London) and other works. [From Chambers Biographical Dictionary (1997)]

Return to top

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The John Singer Sargent Letters are a collection of 45 outgoing items that were written between 1895 and 1923, several of which are undated. Most of the letters originate from Sargent's Tite St. address in Chelsea, however a few were written during Sargent's sojourn in America while he was working at the Boston Public Library. Much of the correspondence is of a personal nature and suggests, as does this item to (Mrs.?) Lovett, the many demands upon the artist's time:

I made a great many promises at a time when I thought my work at the library would soon be over and would leave me a margin of time. But it is still going on, and it may be impossible for me now to fulfill the promises I have made.

Among the letters are responses to social invitations (Mrs. Fuller-Maitland, Lady Jeanne, Mrs. Mallaby, Mrs. Page, Miss Patten), and discussions concerning arrangements for sittings for various of Sargent's patrons (Mrs. Colin Hunter, Hall Walker).

In addition there are a number of business letters as well as several items in which Sargent discusses his work. Among the business correspondence are items concerning the price of Sargent's drawings (Wilfrid Ashley); arrangements for a painting being shipped to Brussels for exhibition (Edward Poynter); and a discussion of Sargent's lack of enthusiasm for participating in a Paris exhibition because of the difficulty of assembling his best work together (Walter Berry). Also included in the correspondence are discussions about painting technique (W. Sergeant Kendall), and Sargent's preparations for his painting of the Madonna, for which he solicited the assistance of Alice Meynell.

The most personal of Sargent's letters are those to George Henschel and Miss Maxse. Among the series to the latter is this revelation concerning the attitude of the artist toward his work:

Please don't ask me to paint anybody! I have taken [on] portraits ... to such a degree that my principal employment in life is to dodge them ... You have given me a chance for which I am grateful by not mentioning who it is that has this morbid wish to be painted ...

I hope you won't be shocked by this glimpse into the abyss.

Return to top

Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Return to top

Subject Headings

Persons

Subjects

Genres and Forms

Occupations

Return to top

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

John Singer Sargent Letters,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Finding Aid Information

Created by: KM
Date: Feb 1989
Revision history: 19 Mar 2007 - converted to EAD (AMCon)

Return to top

Inventory

	Correspondents
SC 76		Anthony, Mr. undated - 1 letter
SC 76		Ashley, Wilfrid William 1913 - 1 letter
SC 76		Barrett, Lawrence undated - 1 letter
SC 76		Berry, Walter Van Rensselaer 1923 - 1 letter
SC 76		Fuller-Maitland, John Alexander (Mrs?) undated - 1 letter
SC 76		Henschel, George undated - 7 letters, 7 note cards
SC 76		Hunter, Colin (Mrs.) undated - 1 letter
SC 76		Jeanne, Lady undated - 1 letter
SC 76		Kendall, William Sergeant undated - 2 letters
SC 76		Leon, Miss undated - 1 letter
SC 76		Lovett, Mrs.? undated - 1 letter
SC 76		Mallaby, Mrs. 1913 - 1 letter
SC 76		Marchesi, Blanche 1901 - 2 letters
SC 76		Maxes, Miss 1895, 1897, 1898, 1905 - 4 letters, 1 note card
SC 76		Meynell, Alice Christiana Thompson 1904 - 1 letter
SC 76		Mitchell, S. Weir undated - 1 letter
SC 76		Morgan, John Pierpont undated - 1 letter
SC 76		Page, Mrs. undated - 3 letters
SC 76		Patten, Miss undated - 1 letter
SC 76		Pettie, Mr. undated - 1 letter
SC 76		Poynter, Edward John undated - 1 letter
SC 76		Walker, Hall (Mrs.) 1913 - 1 letter
SC 76		Unidentified undated - 2 letters

Return to top