May 19, 2009 10:00 EST
Modern & Contemporary and European & American Art
206
John Singer Sargent
John Singer Sargent
American, 1856-1925
Venetian Woman by a Bed, circa 1880-82
Inscribed 104 Venetian Girl by/J.S. Sargent/E.S. on reverse
Watercolor on paper
19 7/8 x 14 inches
Provenance:
Emily Sargent, 1925
Violet Sargent (Ms. Francis Ormond), 1936
Her daughter, Reine Ormond (Mrs. Hugo Pitman), 1955
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, acquired circa 1969
Sotheby's, New York, The Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, April 23-26, 1996, lot 46, illus. sale cat. p. 69
Private collection, Washington, D.C.
Exhibited:
London, England, The Royal Academy, Exhibition of Works by the late John S. Sargent RA, 1926, no. 101 (as A Venetian Girl)
London, England, Tate Gallery, Opening Exhibition of the Sargent Gallery, June-October 1926 (as A Venetian Girl)
New York, Andrew Crispo Gallery, Ten Americans: Masters of Watercolor, May-June 1974, illus. no. 128 (as Venetian Lady)
Literature:
Exhibition of Works by the late John S. Sargent RA, The Royal Academy, London, 1926, exhibition catalogue, no. 101.
Opening Exhibition of the Sargent Gallery, Tate Gallery (Millbank), London, 1926, exhibition catalogue, p. 21.
Curry, Larry. Ten Americansasters of Watercolor, Andrew Crispo Gallery, New York, 1974, no. 128, illus. as Venetian Lady
Fairbrother, Trevor. "Sargent's Genre Paintings and the Issues of Suppression and Privacy", Studies in the History of Art, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, 1990, Vol. 37, p 29-49
Ormond, Richard and Elaine Kilmurray. John Singer Sargent: Figures and Landscapes, Catalogue Raisonne, Vol. IV, Yale University Press, New Haven, 2006, no. 830, pp. 379 (illus.) and 422.
Emblematic of the alluring young women depicted in Venice by John Singer Sargent, the provocative figure at the center of Venetian Woman by a Bed smiles coquettishly. Parting the mosquito netting surrounding an opulent bed, she beckons with an open fan, drawing the viewer into the pleasures of her boudoir. Her open sensuality as well as the details of her attire relate this composition to other compositions by Sargent dating from the early 1880s such as Venetian Girl with a Fan [1882, oil on canvas, 93 ¾ x 52 ½ inches, Collection the Cincinnati Art Museum; The Edwin and Virginia Irwin Memorial]. Executed in a muted palette with fluid brushstrokes, the evocative watercolor displays the spontaneity of a sketch and the pervasive sensuousity that characterizes his Venetian subjects. First visiting Venice in September 1880, Sargent settled into the vibrant art community there, returning regularly over the next three decades.
Sold for $206,250
Estimated at $200,000 - $500,000
Includes Buyer's Premium
John Singer Sargent
American, 1856-1925
Venetian Woman by a Bed, circa 1880-82
Inscribed 104 Venetian Girl by/J.S. Sargent/E.S. on reverse
Watercolor on paper
19 7/8 x 14 inches
Provenance:
Emily Sargent, 1925
Violet Sargent (Ms. Francis Ormond), 1936
Her daughter, Reine Ormond (Mrs. Hugo Pitman), 1955
Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy Onassis, acquired circa 1969
Sotheby's, New York, The Estate of Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, April 23-26, 1996, lot 46, illus. sale cat. p. 69
Private collection, Washington, D.C.
Exhibited:
London, England, The Royal Academy, Exhibition of Works by the late John S. Sargent RA, 1926, no. 101 (as A Venetian Girl)
London, England, Tate Gallery, Opening Exhibition of the Sargent Gallery, June-October 1926 (as A Venetian Girl)
New York, Andrew Crispo Gallery, Ten Americans: Masters of Watercolor, May-June 1974, illus. no. 128 (as Venetian Lady)
Literature:
Exhibition of Works by the late John S. Sargent RA, The Royal Academy, London, 1926, exhibition catalogue, no. 101.
Opening Exhibition of the Sargent Gallery, Tate Gallery (Millbank), London, 1926, exhibition catalogue, p. 21.
Curry, Larry. Ten Americansasters of Watercolor, Andrew Crispo Gallery, New York, 1974, no. 128, illus. as Venetian Lady
Fairbrother, Trevor. "Sargent's Genre Paintings and the Issues of Suppression and Privacy", Studies in the History of Art, National Gallery of Art, Washington DC, 1990, Vol. 37, p 29-49
Ormond, Richard and Elaine Kilmurray. John Singer Sargent: Figures and Landscapes, Catalogue Raisonne, Vol. IV, Yale University Press, New Haven, 2006, no. 830, pp. 379 (illus.) and 422.
Emblematic of the alluring young women depicted in Venice by John Singer Sargent, the provocative figure at the center of Venetian Woman by a Bed smiles coquettishly. Parting the mosquito netting surrounding an opulent bed, she beckons with an open fan, drawing the viewer into the pleasures of her boudoir. Her open sensuality as well as the details of her attire relate this composition to other compositions by Sargent dating from the early 1880s such as Venetian Girl with a Fan [1882, oil on canvas, 93 ¾ x 52 ½ inches, Collection the Cincinnati Art Museum; The Edwin and Virginia Irwin Memorial]. Executed in a muted palette with fluid brushstrokes, the evocative watercolor displays the spontaneity of a sketch and the pervasive sensuousity that characterizes his Venetian subjects. First visiting Venice in September 1880, Sargent settled into the vibrant art community there, returning regularly over the next three decades.
Very lightly toned at edges and slightly faded with two small areas of discoloration. Soft horizontal crease along the top, approximately 3 inches from top.
Any condition statement is given as a courtesy to a client, is an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact and our Organization shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. Please contact the specialist department to request further information or additional images that may be available.
Auction: Modern & Contemporary and European & American Art, May 19, 2009
