John Singer Sargent, Orestes Pursued by the Furies, 1921

John Singer Sargent, Orestes Pursued by the Furies, 1921, originally uploaded by kraftgenie.

John Singer Sargent, Margaretta Drexel, Countess of Winchilsea and Nottingham

Margaretta Drexel, Countess of Winchilsea and Nottingham, a painting by John Singer Sargent., originally uploaded by ondiraiduveau.

John Singer Sargent [American Painter, 1856-1925]

John Singer Sargent, A Dinner Table at Night, 1884

Sargent, John Singer (1856-1925) - 1884 A Dinner Table at Night, originally uploaded by RasMarley.

John Singer Sargent [American Painter, 1856-1925]

John Singer Sargent, Elizabeth Winthrop Chanler, 1893

John Singer Sargent, Elizabeth Winthrop Chanler, originally uploaded by Gatochy.

John Singer Sargent [American Painter, 1856-1925]

John Singer Sargent, Fête Familiale (The Birthday Party), 1887

John Singer Sargent, Fête Familiale (The Birthday Party), originally uploaded by Gatochy.

Click image for 570 x 465 size.

John Singer Sargent [American Painter, 1856-1925]

John Singer Sargent, Lady Diana Manners, 1910s

John Singer Sargent, Lady Diana Manners, 1910s, originally uploaded by Gatochy.

John Singer Sargent [American Painter, 1856-1925]

John Singer Sargent, Madame Ramón Subercaseaux, 1880

John Singer Sargent, Madame Ramón Subercaseaux, 1880, originally uploaded by Gatochy.

Click image for 386 x 600 size.

John Singer Sargent [American Painter, 1856-1925]

John Singer Sargent, Sybil Sasson, Countess of Rocksavage,1912

John Singer Sargent, Sybil Sasson, Countess of Rocksavage, originally uploaded by Gatochy.

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John Singer Sargent [American Painter, 1856-1925]

John Singer Sargent, Sheepfold in the Tyrol, 1915

John Singer Sargent, Sheepfold in the Tyrol, originally uploaded by Gatochy.

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John Singer Sargent [American Painter, 1856-1925]

John Singer Sargent, Violet Sargent and Flora Priestley, 1889

John Singer Sargent, Violet Sargent and Flora Priestley, originally uploaded by Gatochy.

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John Singer Sargent [American Painter, 1856-1925]

John Singer Sargent, Daughters of Edward Darley Bolt, 1882

Daughters of Edward Darley Bolt by John Singer Sargent-1882, originally uploaded by kamikazecatus.

John Singer Sargent [American Painter, 1856-1925].

John Singer Sargent, Mary Turner Austin, 1878

John Singer Sargent: Mary Turner Austin, originally uploaded by freeparking.

John Singer Sargent [American Painter, 1856-1925]

John Singer Sargent, Madame Paul Poirson, 1885

John Singer Sargent, Madame Paul Poirson, 1885, originally uploaded by Gatochy.

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John Singer Sargent [American Painter, 1856-1925]

John Singer Sargent, Madame Gautreau, 1884

John Singer Sargent, Madame Gautreau, 1884, originally uploaded by Gatochy.

Virginie Amélie Avegno Gautreau.

"Research undertaken in 1981 showed that it was not only the sharp-nosed profile, ash-white skin and coral ears of ''Madame X'' that had caused a scandal when Sargent first exhibited the painting at the Paris Salon in 1884. Daringly, and with the sitter's consent, he had depicted Gautreau with one jeweled shoulder strap loosened to reveal naked flesh. The implication was that the lady might be available to men other than her dull and wealthy husband. A sketch for the portrait, in Tate Britain in London, shows that Sargent originally planned to do away with the strap altogether; the Met's portrait, hastily revised after the notorious Salon show, has two straps. Both are in place. The subject's black velvet bodice is thrillingly low -- but secure."

John Singer Sargent [American Painter, 1856-1925]

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