Landscape with Goatherd. John Singer Sargent. 1890-91. Oil on canvas, 24 1/4 x 31 7/8 in. (61.6 x 81 cm). Courtesy of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York (50.130.17), Gift of Mrs. Francis Ormond, 1950. Click on image to enlarge it.
Commentary from the Metropolitan Museum of Art website
Sargent traveled to Syria and Palestine in 1905–6 to conduct research for a series of ambitious murals for the Boston Public Library. While there, he recorded some of his observations in oil and watercolor sketches. Ultimately, he called on the two media interchangeably, broadly brushing thin, fluid paint over paper or canvas to create instantaneous impressions. This summary glimpse of a commonplace scene is typical of the oils Sargent’s sister Violet (Mrs. Francis Ormond) gave to the Metropolitan in 1950.
Last modified 25 May 2016