John Singer Sargent

1856 (Florence) – 1925 (London)

Sargent enjoyed a long friendship with Rodin. Monet was met when both had work in the same exhibition; he encouraged Sargent to work outdoors, and was painted by him at his house in Giverny. James urged Sargent to move to London, and wrote about him, boosting his reputation. Whistler crossed paths with Sargent, befriended his fellow-expatriate, but was somewhat critical of his technique; Sargent lent him his studio at a difficult time in his life. Both Whistler and Wilde lived in the same Chelsea street. Stevenson was a lifelong friend, though described one of Sargent’s portraits of him as “damn queer.”

John Singer Sargent knew…