John Singer SargentAmerican, 1856–1925Head Studies
May one see it?
Not receiving at present
Harvard Art Museums
Cambridge, United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
- Checked
- 3 days ago
- In this state since
- Sep 27, 2026
- Source
- The museum's own collection data
Particulars
- Accession number
- 1937.7.8.28
In the catalog
Sources
- Harvard Art Museums: the museum's own open data · fetched 3 days ago
- Image: Harvard Art Museums — © President and Fellows of Harvard College
Meanwhile, in the life of John Singer Sargent
The whole lifeaged 13 (1869 – 1870)
Watercolour lessons with Carl Welsch
His mother reports that at thirteen John “sketches quite nicely” and has a remarkably quick and correct eye; at that age he receives some watercolour lessons from the German landscape painter Carl Welsch.
1874
The Beaux-Arts exam and a silver prize
In 1874 Sargent passes on his first attempt the rigorous entrance exam of the École des Beaux-Arts in Paris and takes drawing classes with Adolphe Yvon, including anatomy and perspective, winning a silver prize; he also spends much time in self-study, drawing in museums and painting in a studio shared with James Carroll Beckwith, who becomes his primary connection with American artists abroad.
1874–1877 · Education
Beaux-Arts de Paris
1874–1878
Carolus-Duran's atelier and the alla prima method
Sargent studies with the young portraitist Carolus-Duran, whose influence is pivotal for him from 1874 to 1878: instead of the traditional underdrawing, the atelier teaches the alla prima method of working directly on the canvas with a loaded brush, derived from Velázquez. Sargent is the star student in short order, and one of his paintings in this manner prompts the remark “the student has surpassed the teacher”.
