Portrait of Lady Helen Vincent: Difference between revisions
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"'''Portrait of Lady Helen Vincent, Viscountess d'Abernon'''" is a [[1904]] oil painting by John Singer Sargent which is a highlight of the permanent collection of the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]]. The 64 1/2" x 42 1/2" canvas was purchased at auction in [[1984]] with funds provided by [[John Bohorfoush]], the 1984 [[Museum Dinner and Ball]], and the Museum Store. | "'''Portrait of Lady Helen Vincent, Viscountess d'Abernon'''" is a [[1904]] oil painting by John Singer Sargent which is a highlight of the permanent collection of the [[Birmingham Museum of Art]]. The 64 1/2" x 42 1/2" canvas was purchased at auction in [[1984]] with funds provided by [[John Bohorfoush]], the 1984 [[Museum Dinner and Ball]], and the Museum Store. | ||
Lady Helen Venetia Duncombe was born in [[1866]] at Duncombe Park, Yorkshire, the daughter of the first Earl of Feversham. She married Sir Edgar Vincent, a veteran of the Coldstream Guards nine years her senior, in [[1890]], shortly after he took over the governorship of the Imperial Ottoman Bank in Constantinople. He held that position until [[1897]] and in [[1899]] he was elected a Member of Parliament for Exeter. Lady Helen was, "the most celebrated hostess of her age and was 'by reason of her outstanding beauty, intelligence and charm, one of the most resplendent figures [in the later Victorian and Edwardian Social World]'" <sup><i>1</i></sup>. | Lady Helen Venetia Duncombe was born in [[1866]] at Duncombe Park, Yorkshire, the daughter of the first Earl of Feversham. She married Sir Edgar Vincent, a veteran of the Coldstream Guards nine years her senior, in [[1890]], shortly after he took over the governorship of the Imperial Ottoman Bank in Constantinople. He held that position until [[1897]] and in [[1899]] he was elected a Member of Parliament for Exeter. Lady Helen was, "the most celebrated hostess of her age and was 'by reason of her outstanding beauty, intelligence and charm, one of the most resplendent figures [in the later Victorian and Edwardian Social World]'" <sup><i>1</i></sup>. She was associated with "the Souls", a salon of noted intellectuals of the day which included Arthur Belfour, George Curzon, Henry James and Edith Wharton. | ||
[[Image:Helen Vincent 1914.jpg|left|thumb|125px|1914 photograph of Lady Helen]] | [[Image:Helen Vincent 1914.jpg|left|thumb|125px|1914 photograph of Lady Helen]] | ||
In [[1914]] Sir Edgar was granted the title of Baron D'Abernon. During [[World War I]] he chaired the Central Control Board, overseeing the traffic of liquor in the British Empire and later wrote a treatise on the effects of alcohol. Lady Helen trained as an anesthetist and treated over 10,000 patients during the war. Afterward, Sir Edgar served on the Inter-Allied Mission to Poland in [[1920]] and as the British ambassador in Berlin from [[1923]] to [[1926]], during which time Lady Helen kept a diary of her experiences, which was later published. When he retired from the foreign service Baron Edgar was elevated to Viscount D'Abernon. In [[1936]] he became Baronet of Stoke d'Abernon. The Vincents were childless and his titles expired with him in [[1941]]. Lady Helen died in [[1954]]. | In [[1914]] Sir Edgar was granted the title of Baron D'Abernon. During [[World War I]] he chaired the Central Control Board, overseeing the traffic of liquor in the British Empire and later wrote a treatise on the effects of alcohol. Lady Helen trained as an anesthetist and treated over 10,000 patients during the war. Afterward, Sir Edgar served on the Inter-Allied Mission to Poland in [[1920]] and as the British ambassador in Berlin from [[1923]] to [[1926]], during which time Lady Helen kept a diary of her experiences, which was later published. When he retired from the foreign service Baron Edgar was elevated to Viscount D'Abernon. In [[1936]] he became Baronet of Stoke d'Abernon. The Vincents were childless and his titles expired with him in [[1941]]. Lady Helen died in [[1954]]. | ||
John Singer Sargent was, by the time of this portrait, renowned as the premiere portraitist working. Born to American expatriates in Florence, Italy, Sargent grew up traveling throughout Europe and without formal schooling. He learned drawing from his parents who encouraged him to sketch during their travels. He began his serious study of painting in the atelier of Carolus-Duran in Paris and was soon admitted to the École des Beaux-Arts. A star student, he mastered the ''alla prima'' method of using loaded brushes to build up tones without intricate delineation and underpainting. Although he preferred landscapes, | John Singer Sargent was, by the time of this portrait, renowned as the premiere portraitist working. Born to American expatriates in Florence, Italy, Sargent grew up traveling throughout Europe and without formal schooling. He learned drawing from his parents who encouraged him to sketch during their travels. He began his serious study of painting in the atelier of Emile Carolus-Duran in Paris and was soon admitted to the École des Beaux-Arts. A star student, he idolized Diego Velázquez and Frans Hals as he mastered the ''alla prima'' method of using loaded brushes to build up tones without intricate delineation and underpainting. Although he preferred landscapes, Sargent adapted to the lucrative market for portraiture and embarked on a long and much-honored career. | ||
This portrait of Helen was posed in a salon of the Palazzo Giustiniani on the Grand Canal of Venice (glimpsed through the balustrade in the background). A charcoal study of her face, possibly a | This portrait of Helen was posed in a salon of the Palazzo Giustiniani on the Grand Canal of Venice (glimpsed through the balustrade in the background). She is posed leaning against a large stone column wearing a fur-lined dress with a low bodice, wrapped in rich pink-colored stole and adorned with elegant jewelry. The black color of her dress was an abrupt reversal of an earlier depiction in white which the painter scraped off on the morning of the final sitting. <sup><i>2</i></sup>. Lady Helen gazes straight out of the painting with a pensive look. A charcoal study of her face, possibly a study for the same portrait, is held by the York Art Gallery. The painting, which took three weeks to complete, was one of the few full portraits executed in oil that Sargent produced in Venice, though he visited the city almost every year. More often he spent his time painting outdoor scenes in watercolor. He officially retired from the portrait-painting business in [[1907]]. | ||
The painting hangs in a wood frame in the style of 17th century Spanish court that was built for Sargent by Charles Mitchell May.<sup><i> | The painting hangs in a wood frame in the style of 17th century Spanish court that was built for Sargent by Charles Mitchell May.<sup><i>3</i></sup>. It is currently displayed alongside Sargent's copy of Frans Hals' "[[Regentesses of the Old Men's Almshouse]]" in the museum's American Galleries. | ||
==Notes== | ==Notes== | ||
<small> | <small> | ||
# ''Times'' of London (May 18, 1954), quoted in Rintoul - 1993 | # ''Times'' of London (May 18, 1954), quoted in Rintoul - 1993 | ||
# Antoon - 1993 | |||
# Simon - 1996 | # Simon - 1996 | ||
</small> | </small> | ||
==References== | ==References== | ||
* Antoon, Donna and James Wetenhall (1993) "Lady Helen Vincent, Viscountess d'Abernon" in ''Masterpieces East & West''. Birmingham: Birmingham Museum of Art. ISBN 0931394384 | |||
* Rintoul, M. C. (1993) ''Dictionary of Real People and Places in Fiction.'' London: Taylor & Francis. p. 919. ISBN 0415059992 | * Rintoul, M. C. (1993) ''Dictionary of Real People and Places in Fiction.'' London: Taylor & Francis. p. 919. ISBN 0415059992 | ||
* Simon, Jacob, ''The Art of the Picture Frame'', National Portrait Gallery, 1996, p. 135, cited in (January 2003 ) Simon, Jacob "[http://www.npg.org.uk/research/programmes/the-art-of-the-picture-frame/artist-sargent.php Notes on John Singer Sargent's frames]". National Portrait Gallery | * Simon, Jacob, ''The Art of the Picture Frame'', National Portrait Gallery, 1996, p. 135, cited in (January 2003 ) Simon, Jacob "[http://www.npg.org.uk/research/programmes/the-art-of-the-picture-frame/artist-sargent.php Notes on John Singer Sargent's frames]". National Portrait Gallery | ||
Revision as of 14:16, 21 February 2009
"Portrait of Lady Helen Vincent, Viscountess d'Abernon" is a 1904 oil painting by John Singer Sargent which is a highlight of the permanent collection of the Birmingham Museum of Art. The 64 1/2" x 42 1/2" canvas was purchased at auction in 1984 with funds provided by John Bohorfoush, the 1984 Museum Dinner and Ball, and the Museum Store.
Lady Helen Venetia Duncombe was born in 1866 at Duncombe Park, Yorkshire, the daughter of the first Earl of Feversham. She married Sir Edgar Vincent, a veteran of the Coldstream Guards nine years her senior, in 1890, shortly after he took over the governorship of the Imperial Ottoman Bank in Constantinople. He held that position until 1897 and in 1899 he was elected a Member of Parliament for Exeter. Lady Helen was, "the most celebrated hostess of her age and was 'by reason of her outstanding beauty, intelligence and charm, one of the most resplendent figures [in the later Victorian and Edwardian Social World]'" 1. She was associated with "the Souls", a salon of noted intellectuals of the day which included Arthur Belfour, George Curzon, Henry James and Edith Wharton.
In 1914 Sir Edgar was granted the title of Baron D'Abernon. During World War I he chaired the Central Control Board, overseeing the traffic of liquor in the British Empire and later wrote a treatise on the effects of alcohol. Lady Helen trained as an anesthetist and treated over 10,000 patients during the war. Afterward, Sir Edgar served on the Inter-Allied Mission to Poland in 1920 and as the British ambassador in Berlin from 1923 to 1926, during which time Lady Helen kept a diary of her experiences, which was later published. When he retired from the foreign service Baron Edgar was elevated to Viscount D'Abernon. In 1936 he became Baronet of Stoke d'Abernon. The Vincents were childless and his titles expired with him in 1941. Lady Helen died in 1954.
John Singer Sargent was, by the time of this portrait, renowned as the premiere portraitist working. Born to American expatriates in Florence, Italy, Sargent grew up traveling throughout Europe and without formal schooling. He learned drawing from his parents who encouraged him to sketch during their travels. He began his serious study of painting in the atelier of Emile Carolus-Duran in Paris and was soon admitted to the École des Beaux-Arts. A star student, he idolized Diego Velázquez and Frans Hals as he mastered the alla prima method of using loaded brushes to build up tones without intricate delineation and underpainting. Although he preferred landscapes, Sargent adapted to the lucrative market for portraiture and embarked on a long and much-honored career.
This portrait of Helen was posed in a salon of the Palazzo Giustiniani on the Grand Canal of Venice (glimpsed through the balustrade in the background). She is posed leaning against a large stone column wearing a fur-lined dress with a low bodice, wrapped in rich pink-colored stole and adorned with elegant jewelry. The black color of her dress was an abrupt reversal of an earlier depiction in white which the painter scraped off on the morning of the final sitting. 2. Lady Helen gazes straight out of the painting with a pensive look. A charcoal study of her face, possibly a study for the same portrait, is held by the York Art Gallery. The painting, which took three weeks to complete, was one of the few full portraits executed in oil that Sargent produced in Venice, though he visited the city almost every year. More often he spent his time painting outdoor scenes in watercolor. He officially retired from the portrait-painting business in 1907.
The painting hangs in a wood frame in the style of 17th century Spanish court that was built for Sargent by Charles Mitchell May.3. It is currently displayed alongside Sargent's copy of Frans Hals' "Regentesses of the Old Men's Almshouse" in the museum's American Galleries.
Notes
- Times of London (May 18, 1954), quoted in Rintoul - 1993
- Antoon - 1993
- Simon - 1996
References
- Antoon, Donna and James Wetenhall (1993) "Lady Helen Vincent, Viscountess d'Abernon" in Masterpieces East & West. Birmingham: Birmingham Museum of Art. ISBN 0931394384
- Rintoul, M. C. (1993) Dictionary of Real People and Places in Fiction. London: Taylor & Francis. p. 919. ISBN 0415059992
- Simon, Jacob, The Art of the Picture Frame, National Portrait Gallery, 1996, p. 135, cited in (January 2003 ) Simon, Jacob "Notes on John Singer Sargent's frames". National Portrait Gallery
- Morris, Roderick Conway (April 20, 2007) "Sargent's Venice work illustrates an artistic double-life." International Herald Tribune
- "Edgar Vincent, 1st Viscount D'Abernon." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 10 Jan 2009, 07:08 UTC. 21 Feb 2009 [1].
- "John Singer Sargent." Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. 15 Feb 2009, 05:44 UTC. 21 Feb 2009 [2].