Sargent and Paris
Passport to Museums
Sargent and Paris
This exhibition explores the early career of American painter John Singer Sargent and provides an in-depth look at his captivating portrait and beloved highlight of The Met collection, Madame X, amongst other numerous preparatory sketches.
FREE
The Met Museum
April 21, 2025 to August 03, 2025
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Exhibition Details

Immersed in a cosmopolitan circle of artists, writers, and patrons, John Singer Sargent was able to navigate a successful path through the French exhibition system while achieving acclaim and awards. Beyond the portrait studio, he traveled in search of inspiration for his art—finding subjects in Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, and North Africa.

This exhibition gathers Sargent’s diverse works from this period to illuminate his path to becoming an artist, which was indelibly shaped by his experiences in the French capital. These visually stunning works provide a compelling view of the Paris art world of the late 19th century.

Additional Details

Sargent and Paris explores the early career of American painter John Singer Sargent (1856–1925), from his arrival in Paris in 1874 as a precocious 18-year-old art student through the mid-1880s, when his infamous portrait Madame X was a scandalous success at the Paris Salon.

Over the course of one extraordinary decade, Sargent achieved recognition by creating boldly ambitious portraits and figure paintings that pushed the boundaries of conventionality.

Location

The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Gallery 899
1000 5th Ave
New York, NY 10028

Image: Marquee: John Singer Sargent, Madame X (Madame Pierre Gautreau) (detail), 1883–84. Oil on canvas / courtesy of The Met