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.