Sargent's Women
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"In this seductive, multilayered biography, based on original letters and diaries, Donna M. Lucey illuminates four extraordinary women painted by the iconic high-society portraitist John Singer Sargent. With uncanny intuition, Sargent hinted at the mysteries and passions that unfolded in his subjects' lives. Elsie Palmer traveled between her father's Rocky Mountain castle and the medieval English manor house where her mother took refuge, surrounded by artists, writers, and actors. Elsie hid labyrinthine passions, including her love for a man who would betray her. As the veiled Sally Fairchild--beautiful and commanding--emerged on Sargent's canvas, the power of his artistry lured her sister, Lucia, into a Bohemian life. The saintly Elizabeth Chanler embarked on a surreptitious love affair with her best friend's husband. And the iron-willed Isabella Stewart Gardner scandalized Boston society and became Sargent's greatest patron and friend. Like characters in an Edith Wharton novel, these women challenged society's restrictions, risking public shame and ostracism. All had forbidden love affairs; Lucia bravely supported her family despite illness, while Elsie explored Spiritualism, defying her overbearing father. Finally, the headstrong Isabella outmaneuvered the richest plutocrats on the planet to create her own magnificent art museum. These compelling stories of female courage connect our past with our present--and remind us that while women live differently now, they still face obstacles to attaining full equality."--Jacket flap.
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The portrait painter, John Singer Sargent, is the Sargent in the title. However the book is about four of society's notable women whose lives intersected with his, all but one memorialized on canvas by him. The time period is late 1890's and this well-researched book by Donna M. Lucey portrays the lifestyle of the times among the top tiers of the upper class. Though Sargent was born in the U.S., he resided in Europe most of his life. It was through benefactors that he became sought out for his portraits. The four women documented led interesting lives and that Lucey relates in detail, based on her fine research of the subjects. I highly recommend this book.
This was pretty good. Each section talks about a woman that John Singer Sargent painted a portrait of (at least in theory - one section is more about the subjects sister than her). I found some sections to be more interesting than others, but overall a really interesting look at these women.
