TheHarry BinswangerLetter

Sargent: Portraits of Artists and Friends at Metropolitan Museum, NY

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    • 07/10/15 @ 2:02pm EDT #98690 test
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      CynthiaGillis Reply to Author,
      cgillis@architetto.com

      For the first time in a while I am sorry I no longer live in NY — if I did I would be returning to this amazing show again and again.  

      http://www.metmuseum.org/about-the-museum/press-room/exhibitions/2015/sargent 

       I would encourage anyone who possibly can to go to NY just to see this show. I have always loved Sargent, but I had no idea what he was capable of.  Most of the portraits were not commissioned, so this was him doing purely what he wanted to.  Two of the paintings caused both of us, John and me, to react in the same way.  “That is Galt”.   “That is Gail Wynand”.  (Wynand is actually Edwin Booth by the way). 

      I was transfixed by a few of the paintings, spending about half an hour at them, in tears part of the time, wanting to kneel. 

      The show is huge, and we only had one day remaining in NY, so I could not find the strength to completely see all the paintings in the last room.  The book will have to do,  as the show ends October 4, 2015 and isn’t going on anywhere else.

    • 07/11/15 @ 6:46pm EDT #107694 test
      | DIR.
      StuartFeldman Reply to Author,
      stuart_feldman@yahoo.com

      I heartily endorse Cynthia’s recommendation to see the Sargent exhibition. I saw it July 4th, at HBLr, Don Thompson’s recommendation. Aside from his ability to the capture the personalities and characters of his sitters, the works are a testament to his complete mastery of his medium and technique. Look closely (when the guards aren’t watching), to see how he expertly he lays each brushstroke in its proper place to create the effect of reality when viewed at the proper distance. Anyone who is a painter, or is aspiring to be one, should see this show. When I left, I was sorely tempted to put down my clay tools and pick up my dusty brushes and go at it!

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