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.