1879, John Singer Sargent, Alhambra, Patio de los Arrayanes (Court of the Myrtles) -- Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) (special exhibition)
From the museum label: From Madrid, Sargent traveled south to Granada where he visited the Alhambra, the magnificent palace and fortress of the Nasrid dynasty, built in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. He made a series of architectural studies at the compound, including this dazzling image of the north facade of the Court of the Myrtles, known for its ornate stucco design. Sargent eschews specific architectural detail, instead exploring the effects of sun and shadow on the arcade and of light glancing off the reflecting pool, rendered with broad daubs of paint and visible brushwork. A demonstration of his burgeoning plein-air practice, the work is an early example of Sargent's ability to figure the essence of place with great spontaneity.
1879, John Singer Sargent, Alhambra, Patio de los Arrayanes (Court of the Myrtles) -- Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York) (special exhibition)
From the museum label: From Madrid, Sargent traveled south to Granada where he visited the Alhambra, the magnificent palace and fortress of the Nasrid dynasty, built in the thirteenth and fourteenth centuries. He made a series of architectural studies at the compound, including this dazzling image of the north facade of the Court of the Myrtles, known for its ornate stucco design. Sargent eschews specific architectural detail, instead exploring the effects of sun and shadow on the arcade and of light glancing off the reflecting pool, rendered with broad daubs of paint and visible brushwork. A demonstration of his burgeoning plein-air practice, the work is an early example of Sargent's ability to figure the essence of place with great spontaneity.