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Lady Agnew of Lochnaw (1865 - 1932)
John Singer Sargent
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John Singer Sargent
Lady Agnew of Lochnaw (1865 - 1932)1892On Display | NATIONAL GALLERY OF SCOTLAND
Lady Agnew's direct gaze and informal pose, emphasised by the flowing fabric and lilac sash of her dress ensure the portrait's striking impact. Andrew Noel Agnew, a barrister who had inherited the baronetcy and estates of Lochnaw in Galloway, commissioned this painting of his young wife, Gertrude Vernon (1865-1932), in 1892. It was exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1898 and made Sargent's name. The sculptor Rodin described him as 'the Van Dyck of our times'. Portrait commissions poured in and Sargent enjoyed something of a cult following in Edwardian society. It also launched Lady Agnew as a society beauty.
Glossary Open
Commission
When an individual or organisation employs an artist to execute a particular project, the process and the resulting work are termed a ‘commission’.
Royal Academy
An independent institution founded in 1768 with Sir Joshua Reynolds as its first president. It is governed by the Royal Academicians - leading painters, sculptors, printmakers and architects, which number no more than 80 at one time. It organises exhibitions at its London galleries, including an annual Summer Exhibition.
Details
- Accession no. NG 1656
- Medium Oil on canvas
- Size 127.00 x 101.00 cm (framed: 157.00 x 133.35 x 13.97 cm)
- Credit Purchased with the aid of the Cowan Smith Bequest Fund 1925
John Singer Sargent (American, 1856 - 1925)
The American artist Sargent became one of the most fashionable and highly successful portrait painters of Edwardian society. He was born in Italy and travelled extensively both in childhood and throughout his career. Sargent trained in Paris and developed a fluid painting style, remarkable for his dazzling brushwork and bold handling of light. He also painted fine landscapes and produced moving and powerful pictures as an official war artist during the First World War. His move to London in 1884 was prompted by the scandal his provocative portrait of Madame Gautreau caused at the Paris Salon.
Glossary Open
Paris Salon
The Paris Salon was the official exhibiting space of the French Academy. Established in 1673 it moved to the Salon d'Apollon at the Louvre in 1725, when it became known as the ‘Salon de Paris’. In 1737 the annual exhibitions were made public and artists were invited to submit their work before a jury. Exhibiting at the Salon and receiving official recognition were vital for an artist's career. In the late 19th century artists became disillusioned with the jury system and its influence declined as a number of independent exhibiting societies were established. The government withdraw its official support in 1881.