About this artwork

The confident gaze and relaxed posture of Lady Agnew (born Gertrude Vernon) was unusual in contemporary portraiture. The spontaneous feel of the image was enhanced further by the fluid and sweeping brushwork. When the painting was exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 1893, it was an instant success. The positive reception helped to secure Sargent’s reputation in Britain. At the same time, it launched Lady Agnew as a celebrity figure in high society.

Updated July 2022

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John Singer Sargent

John Singer Sargent