Italian Villa [recto]

1870-1872

John Singer Sargent

Associated Names
John Singer Sargent

Artist, American, 1856 - 1925

The image shows a landscape viewed from a slightly elevated point, looking down over a group of buildings partially obscured by trees. The horizon is at the top third of the image, meeting a sky with soft clouds. The buildings and cypress trees create vertical elements contrasting with the horizontal landscape. The style features sketch-like graphite strokes suggesting form, giving a misty appearance. The color palette is monochromatic, with varying shades of grey against a pale paper tone, creating a serene atmosphere.

Media Options

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Artwork overview

Associated Artworks

The image is a sketch showing several figures and body parts. The central figure, seen from the back in full view, appears to be standing upright and using crutches, wearing a wide-brimmed hat. Other smaller figures to the right are depicted standing and walking forward, wearing short tunics or dresses, with visible legs and arms. In the top right corner, there is a sketch of what seems to be a head or face viewed side-on. On the left side, there is a partial study of an arm. The background is plain with no additional context or environment details.

Studies of Peasants with Wheelbarrows [verso]

John Singer Sargent

1870

Artwork history & notes

Provenance

Miss Emily Sargent and Mrs. Violet Sargent Ormond (sisters of the artist), Surrey, England; National Gallery (now known as the Smithsonian American Art Museum), Washington, DC, 1929, left in storage at the Corcoran Gallery of Art; Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1949; acquired 2015 by the National Gallery of Art

Associated Names

Exhibition History

1999

  • "Sketch Everything and Keep Your Curiosity Fresh": Sargent Drawings from the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 1999

2009

  • John Singer Sargent in the Corcoran Collection, Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, 2009-2010

Bibliography

1967

  • Gross, Ellen, and James Harithas. Drawings by John Singer Sargent in the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Alhambra, California: Borden, 1967.

1983

  • Simmons, Linda Crocker and with the assistance of Adrianne J. Humphrey, et al. American Drawings, Watercolors, Pastels, and Collages in the Collection of the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Washington, DC: Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1983: p. 103, no. 672.

  • Nygren, Edward J. John Singer Sargent: Drawings from the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Washington, DC: Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service and the Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1983, p. 41, no. 10.

Inscriptions

lower left in graphite by unknown hand: J.S.209a

Wikidata ID

Q64584118

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