Summary
The painting at first was always with the Boit family but after awhile they separated Sargent used the painting as for "professional aspirations" (Hirshler 189). Sargent was not finish he wanted to show the whole world once more the painting in a museum, when the portrait came back to Boston it got a lot of attention on how important it was. Ned owed a Trust $125,000 and it kept adding up, so for the girls not having to suffer the debt from their father, Bob Boit decided to sell the portrait. Selling the pictured failed because the price was too high to buy. Sargent came back with his paintings for the Boston Public Library mural. At the end all the girls decided to give the painting to the Boston Museum of Fine Arts agreed by the Trust and lawyer. The painting was analyzed by a Spanish master Velasquez, mostly like everyone else he agreed that Sargent was a talented artist. He also said his paintings are hard to figure out. The painting of the girls was very popular to be selected in his show. Even though highly known, the painting was not that discuss in the catalogue just mentioned in the exhibit. Sargent was criticized too, but the painting was move to the New York gallery. The people that did not like Sargent always rated him as most popular. People continued to analyze the portrait of the girls even though they had answers.
Quotation
When Hirshler is explaining what matters, "it does not really matter who these young girls were, where they were painted, or what psychological insights Sargent may or may not have revealed" (Hirshler 219).
Reaction
Finally finished with the book, I have to say that the ending was the best part of the book because it focus on the end of the painting. In this quote it is like Erica E. Hirshler did all of these things in this book, so why does she say it does not matter? Then she says all that matters id the answers you find, which makes since because everyone has a different question and find different answers to them. In her book she talks about all these different things. When first reading this part you think well if this stuff does not matter than why did I read the book or why did she write it. The main reason I think she wrote it was because she had a question and she found an answer. This book would be good for anyone who say this painting in the exhibit and has questions about the girls, their family, and Sargent himself.
Friday, April 30, 2010
Saturday, April 24, 2010
Sargent's Daughters: The Biography of a Painting (pgs 141-188)
Summary
At the time Ned and Isa Boit were thinking about sending their daughter Jeanie to get treated. In these clinics and retreats Jeanie will progress but her health will not improve and Ned believes she will not live a long life. Ned had paint this oil painting about the bay and cliffs at Cotuit and was asked to be in the Salon for a exhibition. Since the United States had impose tariffs on French Art around the late 19th century it made it harder for painters and collectors, especially Ned's submissions were refused but Sargent continued to be successful. Isa, Ned's wife had became paralyzed and delirious and soon after that her heart and lungs failed, she died on September 29, 1894 at the age of 48 and was bury in Paris. Ned had became very close to the girls and hired an Italian architect to change the view of their garden. Boit was inspired to paint again with water and oil colors of places he travel to. So his family responsibilities and demands went down because his children were already grown or he had nannies. When in London Sargent painted a portrait of Ned and did an exhibit together it was mostly Ned's idea. They were recognize in the New York Times but were very harsh, as for the Boston press was kinder. Ned died of arteriosclerosis in Rome April 24, 1915, along with his baby son's remains was buried in Boston. The girls still being thought as little girls, it was said they never did anything important. Also was not famous as everyone thought, and stayed unmarried. Florence was not looking for a husband, she traveled a lot always with her father and love to play golf and handcrafts. Prefer to live in the U.S. and was said to have a relationship with Jeanie Patten and friend of hers. Jane loves music but had health problems went to get treated and decided to live with people who will take care of her. Mary was the prettiest and played the harp and Julia look more like a Mongolian girl. Julia also became very ill and develop the same problems as Jeanie. These girls spend most of their lives in Paris. In this order the girls pass way Florie, Isa, Julia, and Jeanie.
Quotation
Comparing and contrasting Sargent and Ned's art it was stated that, "Boit lacked the concentrated focus and single-minded force necessary to place his career over and above all the other demands of his life" (Hirshler 145).
Reaction
Through the parts of the book that reflected Sargent's life as an artist he has more success than Ned, and I think it is the personal touch he puts in his painting. He does not only paint portraits as they are he sets them up in a matter that makes people think and he also get his ideas from other artists too. As for Ned I think his painting are simple, they are nice to hang up in the house and collectors want something different to see. Boit gets very successful when he partners up with Sargent. Like they said Boit seem to not concentrate on his painting and if he just put his mind to it he career would of blew up changing everything in his life. These important things Boit lacked are things Sargent had and this is why he was way more successful than Boit. Did Ned seriously like painting? I think he did especially when his wife was alive he painted a lot in Paris, but I think soon after his wife died even though he was going to remarried I think it affected him he just did not realize it was showing in his art. Did Ned know he lacked these things? Even though he was not the best artist he still painted until he died.
At the time Ned and Isa Boit were thinking about sending their daughter Jeanie to get treated. In these clinics and retreats Jeanie will progress but her health will not improve and Ned believes she will not live a long life. Ned had paint this oil painting about the bay and cliffs at Cotuit and was asked to be in the Salon for a exhibition. Since the United States had impose tariffs on French Art around the late 19th century it made it harder for painters and collectors, especially Ned's submissions were refused but Sargent continued to be successful. Isa, Ned's wife had became paralyzed and delirious and soon after that her heart and lungs failed, she died on September 29, 1894 at the age of 48 and was bury in Paris. Ned had became very close to the girls and hired an Italian architect to change the view of their garden. Boit was inspired to paint again with water and oil colors of places he travel to. So his family responsibilities and demands went down because his children were already grown or he had nannies. When in London Sargent painted a portrait of Ned and did an exhibit together it was mostly Ned's idea. They were recognize in the New York Times but were very harsh, as for the Boston press was kinder. Ned died of arteriosclerosis in Rome April 24, 1915, along with his baby son's remains was buried in Boston. The girls still being thought as little girls, it was said they never did anything important. Also was not famous as everyone thought, and stayed unmarried. Florence was not looking for a husband, she traveled a lot always with her father and love to play golf and handcrafts. Prefer to live in the U.S. and was said to have a relationship with Jeanie Patten and friend of hers. Jane loves music but had health problems went to get treated and decided to live with people who will take care of her. Mary was the prettiest and played the harp and Julia look more like a Mongolian girl. Julia also became very ill and develop the same problems as Jeanie. These girls spend most of their lives in Paris. In this order the girls pass way Florie, Isa, Julia, and Jeanie.
Quotation
Comparing and contrasting Sargent and Ned's art it was stated that, "Boit lacked the concentrated focus and single-minded force necessary to place his career over and above all the other demands of his life" (Hirshler 145).
Reaction
Through the parts of the book that reflected Sargent's life as an artist he has more success than Ned, and I think it is the personal touch he puts in his painting. He does not only paint portraits as they are he sets them up in a matter that makes people think and he also get his ideas from other artists too. As for Ned I think his painting are simple, they are nice to hang up in the house and collectors want something different to see. Boit gets very successful when he partners up with Sargent. Like they said Boit seem to not concentrate on his painting and if he just put his mind to it he career would of blew up changing everything in his life. These important things Boit lacked are things Sargent had and this is why he was way more successful than Boit. Did Ned seriously like painting? I think he did especially when his wife was alive he painted a lot in Paris, but I think soon after his wife died even though he was going to remarried I think it affected him he just did not realize it was showing in his art. Did Ned know he lacked these things? Even though he was not the best artist he still painted until he died.
Friday, April 9, 2010
Sargent's Daughters: The Biography of a Painting (pgs 96-140)
Summary
MID-December 1882, Sargent finish painting the portrait and was ready to present it to the public. With all the different artist that were in Paris to come see his show, Sargent's painting were recognize on how he juxtapose the people in the painting like other artist. Sargent had created another exhibit for his painting at a Salon and said to be one of the most attended. Sargent did not even think of displaying the portrait of the girls since it was meant for the Boit family, he actually wanted to put one up of a well known lady in Paris. Since the choices he wanted to put up were not finish in time he did not what to do because in the Salon only good art should be displayed. He picked the Boit painting, it made headlines even though he was unsure. Many people had their opinions on this painting, most people taking it as the girls had a dark side to them. Some people were concerned with the way objects were placed such as the blue and white Chinese vase. The painting was decided to be shown in 1888 in Boston. With another painting Sargent did on these three girls Evelyn, Mildred, and Mabel Vickers called "the Misses Vickers" as the Boit's girls were in the different positions that not many would chosen to pose. Sargent painted in two seasons, made a bunch of drawings and oil sketches. Boits went back to Boston, and the girls did their daily activies. One Boit girl posed in the way that she was laughing, the one in the back to the right. Florie was said to look the less intelligent and was rude and ungrateful to her mom. The Boit's portrait stayed in Boston MFA for about a year and than packed and shipped out February 15, 1889 to be sent to Paris.
Quotation
When Sargent exhibit was established in the Salon and some of the feedback of his decision to display the Boit's daughters, "the portrait of the Boit girls offered all of the right ingredients for the Salon: it was big, bold, and unusual" (Hirshler 104).
Reaction
I was surprised that Sargent's first choice was not the portrait of the Boit's daughters, he put a lot of work into it and very good friends with the family. Even though he had no choice but to put the painting it made a big success. It was funny how the portrait was so simple just of four sisters but critics felt it had more meaning to that than four sisters in a room posing. They use ingredients as a metaphor that it was just perfect for the Salon, and that is what the Salon looks for when they want great art displayed. There is nothing abstract about this painting because once people look at it they either assume something, ask questions, and did research to see who these girls are. It is not only the girls themselves but the objects and the room they are in people wonder about. What I do not understand is that what makes this painting unusual? As others had said that when you start to look deeper into the painting you notice well this painting is unusual, such as they are sisters are all separated, they are not all dress up, and they all seem to be in there own little world. Sargent may had really want to capture each girl individually even though they are separated and that is was it is a big portrait versus a smaller one.
MID-December 1882, Sargent finish painting the portrait and was ready to present it to the public. With all the different artist that were in Paris to come see his show, Sargent's painting were recognize on how he juxtapose the people in the painting like other artist. Sargent had created another exhibit for his painting at a Salon and said to be one of the most attended. Sargent did not even think of displaying the portrait of the girls since it was meant for the Boit family, he actually wanted to put one up of a well known lady in Paris. Since the choices he wanted to put up were not finish in time he did not what to do because in the Salon only good art should be displayed. He picked the Boit painting, it made headlines even though he was unsure. Many people had their opinions on this painting, most people taking it as the girls had a dark side to them. Some people were concerned with the way objects were placed such as the blue and white Chinese vase. The painting was decided to be shown in 1888 in Boston. With another painting Sargent did on these three girls Evelyn, Mildred, and Mabel Vickers called "the Misses Vickers" as the Boit's girls were in the different positions that not many would chosen to pose. Sargent painted in two seasons, made a bunch of drawings and oil sketches. Boits went back to Boston, and the girls did their daily activies. One Boit girl posed in the way that she was laughing, the one in the back to the right. Florie was said to look the less intelligent and was rude and ungrateful to her mom. The Boit's portrait stayed in Boston MFA for about a year and than packed and shipped out February 15, 1889 to be sent to Paris.
Quotation
When Sargent exhibit was established in the Salon and some of the feedback of his decision to display the Boit's daughters, "the portrait of the Boit girls offered all of the right ingredients for the Salon: it was big, bold, and unusual" (Hirshler 104).
Reaction
I was surprised that Sargent's first choice was not the portrait of the Boit's daughters, he put a lot of work into it and very good friends with the family. Even though he had no choice but to put the painting it made a big success. It was funny how the portrait was so simple just of four sisters but critics felt it had more meaning to that than four sisters in a room posing. They use ingredients as a metaphor that it was just perfect for the Salon, and that is what the Salon looks for when they want great art displayed. There is nothing abstract about this painting because once people look at it they either assume something, ask questions, and did research to see who these girls are. It is not only the girls themselves but the objects and the room they are in people wonder about. What I do not understand is that what makes this painting unusual? As others had said that when you start to look deeper into the painting you notice well this painting is unusual, such as they are sisters are all separated, they are not all dress up, and they all seem to be in there own little world. Sargent may had really want to capture each girl individually even though they are separated and that is was it is a big portrait versus a smaller one.
Thursday, April 1, 2010
Sargent's Daughters: The Biography of a Painting (pgs 49-96)
Summary
The Boits became good friends with Sargent, they met in France and remain friends for the rest of their lives. Before Sargent painted the daughters he went to other places such as Spain, Morocco, and Venice to paint other portraits. Sargent's painting only some were unusual. When Sargent painted these girls he move some things around, they say Julia's lap her doll's position was changed. Mary Louisa was moved a bit further down in the painting. Sargent explain how it was hard to paint portraits, because the girls would not sit still and stay in their positions. Another girl named Marie-Louise posed badly and would get into arguments with Sargent, but there was days he was nice to them and played games with her and her brother. In the painting it was hard to tell what the Boit's furniture was because there was no records on when they brought them. Boit's large blue and white vases were made in Arita, Japan. It might of took Sargent one month and forty-five days to finish the painting of the girls. Sargent was inspired by Spainsh artist Velazquez. Sargent had the same mirror image of the girl "infanta Margarita Teresa of Spain" when he painted Julia. In Sargent's painting the distance of the girls is similar to the distance in Degas' painting called "family portrait." The girls were in the front hall of their apartment, and wore their everyday clothing for the portrait. In the painting the girls are not posed neatly, they are just all over the place. They say Sargent's paintings are very ambigous, where there could be multiple meanings are not meaning at all.
Quotation
When the Boit's agree to have Sargent paint a portrait of their daughters, Hirshler says that might of got advice from Henry James, "the policy of self-surrender to the artist...trust him completely and ask no questions...leave him his ways, his variations, his mysteries...You can't collaborate except by sitting still" (Hirshler 85).
Reaction
This statement said by Henry James is true when it comes to an artist painting a portrait of someone, you have to kind of let the artist do what they want to do and just be very trustworthy of what they are to do. As explained in the book Sargent is a very ambiguous man, so I can image that when people would want him to paint them they would keep their mouth shut and sit still. That leads into that the only way to be a big help to an artist is to just to sit still in that position for as long as it would have to take. It is like you really have to let the artist be in control of you in that moment. The artist has to be left alone, even to the point where the person should not ask questions. It is understanding that the Boit's would have follow what James had said, but the daughters might of had little trouble with sitting still for Sargent. I wonder why they would call it policy though? Do the people who agree to get painted have to just automatically know to respect this policy for the artist sake. This policy says that most painters have different and mysteries ways of painting, but it seems the same policy applies to every painter.
The Boits became good friends with Sargent, they met in France and remain friends for the rest of their lives. Before Sargent painted the daughters he went to other places such as Spain, Morocco, and Venice to paint other portraits. Sargent's painting only some were unusual. When Sargent painted these girls he move some things around, they say Julia's lap her doll's position was changed. Mary Louisa was moved a bit further down in the painting. Sargent explain how it was hard to paint portraits, because the girls would not sit still and stay in their positions. Another girl named Marie-Louise posed badly and would get into arguments with Sargent, but there was days he was nice to them and played games with her and her brother. In the painting it was hard to tell what the Boit's furniture was because there was no records on when they brought them. Boit's large blue and white vases were made in Arita, Japan. It might of took Sargent one month and forty-five days to finish the painting of the girls. Sargent was inspired by Spainsh artist Velazquez. Sargent had the same mirror image of the girl "infanta Margarita Teresa of Spain" when he painted Julia. In Sargent's painting the distance of the girls is similar to the distance in Degas' painting called "family portrait." The girls were in the front hall of their apartment, and wore their everyday clothing for the portrait. In the painting the girls are not posed neatly, they are just all over the place. They say Sargent's paintings are very ambigous, where there could be multiple meanings are not meaning at all.
Quotation
When the Boit's agree to have Sargent paint a portrait of their daughters, Hirshler says that might of got advice from Henry James, "the policy of self-surrender to the artist...trust him completely and ask no questions...leave him his ways, his variations, his mysteries...You can't collaborate except by sitting still" (Hirshler 85).
Reaction
This statement said by Henry James is true when it comes to an artist painting a portrait of someone, you have to kind of let the artist do what they want to do and just be very trustworthy of what they are to do. As explained in the book Sargent is a very ambiguous man, so I can image that when people would want him to paint them they would keep their mouth shut and sit still. That leads into that the only way to be a big help to an artist is to just to sit still in that position for as long as it would have to take. It is like you really have to let the artist be in control of you in that moment. The artist has to be left alone, even to the point where the person should not ask questions. It is understanding that the Boit's would have follow what James had said, but the daughters might of had little trouble with sitting still for Sargent. I wonder why they would call it policy though? Do the people who agree to get painted have to just automatically know to respect this policy for the artist sake. This policy says that most painters have different and mysteries ways of painting, but it seems the same policy applies to every painter.
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