Mrs. Thomas Edward Vickers 1884

John Singer Sargent’s portrait of Mrs. Thomas Edward Vickers is rendered in oil on canvas, a traditional medium for portraiture. Sargent’s approach to paint, however, moves beyond tradition. Observe the loose, confident brushstrokes, particularly in the rendering of her dress, which is built from layers of thin paint. These show Sargent’s mastery over the material, pushing it to its full potential, creating subtle tonal gradations. The very fabric of the painting, the threads of canvas, adds a tactile dimension, as if we could reach out and touch not just the image but the material itself. The skillful application of paint speaks to a tension inherent in such commissions. The labour involved, the cost of materials and studio, and the time demanded to bring the work to completion, were all signs of wealth and status. Sargent’s work remains intriguing precisely because it makes the viewer aware of the skills involved in the art-making process, collapsing any assumed hierarchy between the fine arts and the crafts.