John Singer Sargent

What Makes It Great?

Carnation Lily Lily Rose, by John Singer Sargent

I recently had the chance to see the “Sargent and Impressionism” exhibit at the Adelson Gallery in NYC (19E. 82^nd St.), open through December 18, 2010. Following the public shock of his overly suggestive portrait of “Madame X” exhibited at the Paris Salon in 1884, Sargent was ostracized and moved to the English countryside.  There, he experimented with impressionistic painting techniques of the day, encouraged by friends such as Claude Monet.  Sargent’s foray into Impressionism culminated with the iconic “Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose” (1886, Tate Gallery, London), which relaunched his foundering career.

What makes this portrait great? The combination of the Impressionistic style of Sargent’s time with a unique humanity recognizable in any era makes this work enduring. Like all great art, Sargent’s “Carnation, Lilly, Lily, Rose” invites multiple interpretations.  When I look at “Carnation, Lily, Lily Rose”, I am entranced by it’s ethereal grace. The manner in which Sargent evokes the innocent exploration of childhood brings me back to that point in my own life and allows me to enter their world. This painting has become iconic because it speaks to so many, generation upon generation, in a highly personal way.