Luxembourg Gardens at Twilight, 1879
John Singer Sargentexpand_more
Oil on canvasexpand_more
Gift of Mrs. C. C. Bovey and Mrs. C. D. Velieexpand_more 16.20
On View in Gallery 351expand_more
Sargent was born in Italy to American parents and spent most of his career in Europe. He executed this view of a fashionable park in summer twilight while completing his art studies in Paris. Like the young French Impressionists whose work he respected, Sargent sought to capture fleeting moments in urban settings, evoking movement and, here, the particular diffuse light of Paris at dusk. The delicate harmony of pearly gray and white combined with touches of vivid color are pure Sargent.
The painter executed two versions of this subject. He sold the slightly more finished one (now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art), but gave this one to Charles Follen McKim, the famous architect; it is inscribed "To my friend McKim." In his later years, Sargent could not recall in which order he executed the two paintings, but from certain subtle changes he thought perhaps the Minneapolis painting was first.
Details
- Title
- Luxembourg Gardens at Twilight
- Artist Life
- (died England), 1856 - 1925
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 16.20
- Catalogue Raisonne
- Ormond, 599.
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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