Sargent, John Singer

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Sargent, John Singer (1856–1925). American painter who settled in England and became the outstanding portraitist of his time. Born in Italy, Sargent studied there and in Paris, where he became a good friend of Monet. A scandal surrounding his portrait Madame Gautreau caused him to leave Paris in 1884/5. He settled in London where he remained until his death, although he visited the USA frequently and retained his citizenship. His portraits of high society brought him great success and he was elected ARA in 1894, RA in 1897. After about 1907, he took few commissions; he travelled and concentrated on water-colour landscapes as well as some mural paintings in America. He was an official war artist during the First World War and his powerful Gassed hangs in the Imperial War Museum.

June Cochrane

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