Sarah Cash, Sargent and Spain

Abstract: John Singer Sargent’s decades-long captivation with Spain yielded a remarkable body of work depicting the rich and diverse culture he encountered. This talk will provide an overview of Sargent and Spain, the first exhibition to reveal the depth of this engagement and the intentional approach the artist adopted there. Presenting some 140 oils, watercolors, drawings, and never-before published photographs, several almost certainly taken by the artist himself, the exhibition is on view from October 2, 2022, through January 2, 2023 at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, and from February 11 through May 14, 2023 at the Legion of Honor, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.

Sargent (1856-1925) left a rich visual record of his time in Spain—over 225 oils, watercolors, and drawings, supplemented by sketchbooks, scrapbooks, and nearly 200 photographs that he collected or possibly took himself. Over seven extended visits between 1879 and 1912, he depicted stunning landscape views, detailed architectural studies, local peoples and traditions, dynamic scenes of flamenco dance, and everyday moments of Spanish Roma life. He copied paintings, especially by Diego Velázquez (1599–1660), in museums and was intrigued by art in churches, which influenced his expansive murals for the Boston Public Library.

About the speaker: Sarah Cash is Associate Curator of American and British Paintings at the National Gallery of Art, Washington. Previously she served as curator of American art at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, director of the Maier Museum of Art at Randolph-Macon Woman’s College, and Assistant Curator at the Amon Carter Museum. She received her B.A. in Art History from Smith College and an M.A. from the Williams College Graduate Program in the History of Art.

The event is part of the Research Seminar Series organised by Durham University's Zurbarán Centre with the ARTES Iberian and Latin American Visual Culture Group in collaboration with the Instituto Cervantes and the Embassy of Spain in London.

The series provides an open forum for engaging with innovative research and exhibition projects relating to the visual arts in the Hispanic world.

The sessions usually take place on Wednesdays, 6.00-7.00 pm (UK time).

Booking is essential