John Singer Sargent: Premier Portraitist of the Gilded Age

John Singer Sargent was the premier portraitist of the Gilded Age elite, and you can see six of his notable works on permanent display inside Biltmore House. Five portraits were directly commissioned by George Vanderbilt; the sixth was a gift from one of Vanderbilt’s cousins.

Discover how Sargent’s skill as a portrait artist lay not only in capturing a likeness but also in conveying the essence of an era characterized by immense wealth and rapid social change.

Photograph of John Singer Sargent by James E. Purdy, 1903.

This cosmopolitan figure of the late 19th and early 20th centuries appealed to the increasing elite of both Europe and America, blending traditional techniques with a modern perspective that distinguished his portraits from those of his contemporaries. This year marks the one hundredth anniversary of his death. His obituary referred to him as the “greatest contemporary portrait painter”, a title that still resonates today.

Formative years in Paris

“El Jaleo” by John Singer Sargent, 1882 (Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA).

Born to American parents in Florence, Italy, John Singer Sargent spent much of his life living in various countries throughout Europe.

In 1874, at the formative age of 18, he moved to Paris, marking a pivotal point in his career. During the late 19th century, Paris was regarded as the world’s most beautiful and dynamic city, attracting painters, sculptors, and intellectuals from around the globe who sought artistic growth and a vibrant cultural environment.

The city offered a stimulating environment filled with galleries and salons where artists could exhibit their works and interact with fellow artists and critics. Noting the influx of artists to the city, in an essay by Henry James on Sargent in 1887, James noted, “when today we look for ‘American art’ we find it mainly in Paris” (Harper’s Magazine, October 1887).

Sargent embraced the city’s cultural life and frequented Paris’s museums, exploring the avant-garde paintings of the Impressionists. He studied under the renowned portrait artist Carolus-Duran and enrolled in the École des Beaux-Arts. During these formative years, he demonstrated an early talent for portraiture, capturing the personality and presence of his sitters through his brushstrokes and engaging compositions, which led to him becoming one of the most sought-after portrait artists of the 19th century.  

Upon his arrival in Paris, John Singer Sargent’s primary goal was to exhibit at the Paris Salon, an annual art exhibition in France that served as the primary event for artists to gain recognition and approval, and where critics played a crucial role in shaping public opinion. Exhibiting at the Salon could make or break an artist’s reputation, depending on the final verdict of critics. Their opinions set the standard for what was considered “good” or “high” art throughout Europe.

John Singer Sargent in his Paris studio with the portrait of “Madame X”, ca. 1885 (photograph by Adolphe Giraudon).

Sargent’s success at the Paris Salon in 1882 with El Jaleo led him to become one of the most talked-about painters in Paris. After several years of success at the Salon, his exhibition of Madame X in 1884 received negative criticism for the painting’s suggestive pose, the paleness of her skin, and the provocative neckline of her dress. Its unconventional style challenged the more traditional views of the time. Ultimately, the controversy led Sargent to leave Paris and move to London, taking James McNeill Whistler’s old studio on Tite Street. 

Sargent’s arrival in America

Portrait of Isabella Stewart Gardner by John Singer Sargent, 1888 (Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, Boston, MA).

John Singer Sargent made several trips to the United States during his career, but his first successful visit as a portrait artist came in October 1887.  His work was less successful in London than in Paris, and he was seeking to expand his portraiture and build a reputation in the United States. He arrived in Boston and quickly received commissions from prominent members of American society. Pivotal to his success was an article written by author Henry James in Harper’s Weekly, which introduced the artist’s work to the American public and paved the way for his commissions. 

The late 1800s marked a period of unprecedented economic growth and a widening gap between social classes in the United States, characterized by a growing class of wealthy industrialists and financiers who rivaled the lifestyles of the European aristocracy. Into this ripe environment for a portrait artist, Sargent arrived in Boston, eager to immerse himself and gain the patronage of the city’s upper crust. He had established a network of Boston friends while in Paris, and his arrival in Boston was met with the fuss and fanfare of a superstar along with a long list of commissions. His initial portraits included those of Isabella Stewart Gardner (1888) and Mrs. Charles E. Inches (1887), both members of Boston’s elite.

George Vanderbilt’s patronage

“Mrs. William H. Vanderbilt” by John Singer Sargent, 1888.

Within a few months of Sargent’s arrival, George Vanderbilt commissioned him to paint his mother, Maria Louisa Vanderbilt. Letters exchanged between Sargent and George Vanderbilt regarding the commission of Mrs. Vanderbilt began in November 1887. The following year, Maria Louisa sat for Sargent in her new home at 640 Fifth Avenue. The artist requested that she wear a black dress “that Mrs. Vanderbilt already owns” (Sargent to Vanderbilt, November 22, 1887, The Biltmore Company Archives).

She holds a pair of gloves while seated in an armchair, uniquely designed by the notable Herter Brothers–the same firm that designed and decorated the interiors of the 640 Fifth Avenue home. Although the portrait was not exhibited, critics recognized his ability to capture his sitter through masterful composition and bravura brushwork, deeming it “one of Mr. Sargent’s greatest successes in portraiture.” (The Critic, March 17, 1888)

Sargent’s association with the Vanderbilts and other wealthy families propelled him into the upper echelons of American society, solidifying his reputation as a sought-after portraitist among the elite. The commission from George Vanderbilt to paint his mother’s portrait demonstrated the Vanderbilt family’s recognition of John Singer Sargent’s artistic talent and launched a series of several more commissioned portraits.

Vanderbilt’s collection of John Singer Sargent portraits grows

“George Washington Vanderbilt” by John Singer Sargent, 1890

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“Frederick Law Olmsted” by John Singer Sargent, 1895.

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“Richard Morris Hunt” by John Singer Sargent, 1895.

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“Mrs. Walter Bacon” by John Singer Sargent, 1886.

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“Mrs. Benjamin Kissam” by John Singer Sargent, 1888.

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During the next nine years, George Vanderbilt commissioned four additional portraits by Sargent: himself, Biltmore’s architect and landscape architect, and his cousin. In addition, he was gifted one from his aunt.

• George Washington Vanderbilt – Commissioned in 1890, the portrait was presumably created in Sargent’s New York studio. The artist’s influence from Velazquez is evident in the portrait through his color palette, thickness of brushwork, and overall simplicity. The choice of a red-edged book as a prop in Vanderbilt’s hand stands out in the portrait since Vanderbilt was noted in society for being “bookish” and a recognized bibliophile and collector of books. The portrait fittingly hangs over the door to the Library in the Tapestry Gallery.
• Frederick Law Olmsted and Richard Morris Hunt – George Vanderbilt commissioned Sargent in 1895 to paint the portraits of Biltmore’s architect and landscape architect as a tribute to their contributions to the estate. Hunt, nearing the end of his life, posed outside the grand staircase but frequently came inside to warm himself by the fireplace. Olmsted stood in the natural environment of Western North Carolina, surrounded by laurels and rhododendron. As he became weary and anxious to return to work, his son, Frederick Jr., took his place in a room inside Biltmore House, wearing his father’s clothing. Today, both of the portraits hang in Second Floor Living Hall.
• Mrs. Walter Bacon (née Virginia Purdy Barker) – Vanderbilt commissioned this portrait of his cousin in 1896. Virginia and George were close and enjoyed travelling together. Sargent recently left Biltmore, and Mrs. Bacon posed in Sargent’s London studio. She wears a black Spanish dress, reflecting the influence of Spanish art and culture in many of Sargent’s works, as well as the growing fascination with Spain and Hispanic culture in the United States. In an effort to find the perfect frame for the portrait, it was almost a year before the painting was shipped to Biltmore in a newly made frame. It now hangs in the Breakfast Room. 
• The only Sargent not commissioned by Vanderbilt, which rivals the portrait of Maria Louisa in color and sumptuous texture, is Mrs. Benjamin Kissam (maternal aunt to George Vanderbilt). Sargent’s masterful treatment of fabrics, such as the soft folds of silk in Mrs. Kissam’s dress, exemplifies the luxurious quality that appealed to his patrons. Painted in 1888, the portrait was given to George by the sitter’s daughter, Ethel Kissam Train, after her mother’s death in 1894. This portrait also hangs in the Breakfast Room. 

Capturing the essence of an era

Sargent’s portraits of Mrs. Walter Bacon (left) and Mrs. Benjamin Kissam (right) are displayed in the Breakfast Room of Biltmore House along with paintings by other notable artists, including Pierre-Auguste Renoir and Maxime Maufra.

By the time Sargent moved away from commissioned portraiture in 1907, he had established himself as the foremost portraitist of the period, renowned for his technical mastery and his ability to capture not only the likeness but also the personality of the era’s elite. His portraits remain a captivating visual record of this opulent period, reflecting the ambition and vibrancy of a society undergoing rapid transformation. 

His work continues to inspire exhibitions worldwide. The Musée d’Orsay and The Metropolitan Museum of Art organized Sargent and Paris at The Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, now on view until August 3, 2025. The exhibition focuses on Sargent’s early years.

See Sargent on display at Biltmore

Biltmore’s collection of six portraits completes an era of John Singer Sargent’s work that complements the paintings featured in The Met’s show, allowing you to see a different set of works that paint Sargent in a new light. Plan your visit now to see our private collection of Sargent’s portraits on permanent display inside Biltmore House.