Portrait of Ambrogio Raffele 1911

John Singer Sargent painted this portrait of Ambrogio Raffele with watercolor on paper. Watercolor, as a medium, might seem delicate, but Sargent wields it here with great confidence, almost bravado. Look at the way he lets the pigment bleed and run, defining form with a few strategic strokes. It is a classic, early modern approach to portraiture. There is remarkable efficiency in Sargent’s method; watercolor dries quickly, which allowed him to build up layers rapidly and capture the essence of his sitter with spontaneity. The beauty of watercolor lies in its immediacy and transparency. It is hard to make corrections and changes, which demands that the artist knows exactly what they are doing. In this work, the lack of labor produces a sense of effortless grace. Ultimately, Sargent's technique and materials elevate the status of portraiture and capture the sitter with unique character and status.