1881, John Singer Sargent, Dr. Pozzi at Home -- Hammer Museum (Los Angeles)
From the museum label:
One of the most celebrated portrait painters of the late nineteenth century in Europe and America, John Singer Sargent excelled in capturing both the physical elegance and psychological personas of his high-society subjects. Above all, Sargent's deft handling of the paintbrush attests to his mastery of color.
Dr. Samuel Jean Pozzi (1846-1918) was a prominent Parisian gynecologist and avid art collector, who was linked romantically with some of the most famous female socialites of the time. Standing larger than life in his scarlet dressing gown, Dr. Pozzi assumes a self-assured pose in this intimate portrait. Sargent captures the renowned physician in a private setting rather than surrounded by accoutrements referring to his profession. The mannered positioning of his hands suggests a refinement that borders on decadence. This aura is heightened by the garnet-colored velvet curtains and plush crimson carpet under the slippered foot that peeks out below the hem of his garment. Dr. Pozzi's confident stance and Sargent's application of varied yet cohesively vibrant red tones on the entire surface of the canvas imbue its subject with the powerful presence commonly found in portraits of emperors and noblemen.
1881, John Singer Sargent, Dr. Pozzi at Home -- Hammer Museum (Los Angeles)
From the museum label:
One of the most celebrated portrait painters of the late nineteenth century in Europe and America, John Singer Sargent excelled in capturing both the physical elegance and psychological personas of his high-society subjects. Above all, Sargent's deft handling of the paintbrush attests to his mastery of color.
Dr. Samuel Jean Pozzi (1846-1918) was a prominent Parisian gynecologist and avid art collector, who was linked romantically with some of the most famous female socialites of the time. Standing larger than life in his scarlet dressing gown, Dr. Pozzi assumes a self-assured pose in this intimate portrait. Sargent captures the renowned physician in a private setting rather than surrounded by accoutrements referring to his profession. The mannered positioning of his hands suggests a refinement that borders on decadence. This aura is heightened by the garnet-colored velvet curtains and plush crimson carpet under the slippered foot that peeks out below the hem of his garment. Dr. Pozzi's confident stance and Sargent's application of varied yet cohesively vibrant red tones on the entire surface of the canvas imbue its subject with the powerful presence commonly found in portraits of emperors and noblemen.