Born into a wealthy Philadelphia family, John Singer Sargent became the most highly regarded portraitist and painter of his generation. He was prolific as well, creating more than 900 oil paintings and more than 2,000 watercolors during his career. He additionally created a large number of sketches and charcoals. He did not limit his interest to portraits or to his American homeland. Over the years he traveled around the world in search of new and exotic subjects. Part of the reason for his artistic wanderlust may have origins in his upbringing. His father, a prominent surgeon, and his mother, Mary Singer Sargent, went abroad following the death of Sargent's older sister (who died at age two), due to his mother's nervous breakdown. The family never returned to live in the United States, and moved around Europe with the changing seasons. His father wanted to return to his medical career back in Philadelphia, but he always acquiesced to his mentally fragile wife.

Sargent displayed an early interest in the world around him. His father wrote to a friend that his son was "a quite close observer of animated nature." Tutored by his father and taken to many of the great historic European sites, Sargent did not have a formal education. Despite this drawback, Sargent arrived at adulthood a well-spoken, well-read, accomplished young man. He was fluent in French, Italian, and 'German. Both his parents were artistically skilled, and from an early age he was taught and encouraged in his artistic pursuit. He began formal study at age thirteen, from German landscape painter, Carl Welsch. He later studied with the French portrait artist, Carolus-Duran. Then, in 1874 he passed the exam to enter the Ecole des Beaux-Arts, which was the most prominent French art school during the nineteenth century. He became a star student, known for his painterly style and strong use of color. During this period he was most interested in landscape. A little later in his career he began accepting commissions for portraits, a genre in which he was to achieve highest excellence. Art historians have remarked that Sargent's greatest strength in painting portraits had to do with the sitter's individual psychology and personality.

Today considered one of his greatest works, his Madame X was initially considered controversial and received a negative reception. Despite this setback, his career continued to blossom and museums were eager to purchase his work. In 1907, he officially closed his studio, citing that he did not want to feel obligated to be cheerful and upbeat in order to entertain the sitter, when he felt so melancholy himself.

Sargent never married, but had a great many friends and extended family. He was extremely private regarding his personal life, though some of his friends stated, after his death, that he had led a "notorious" sex life, apparently with both male and female partners.

Image: Self Portrait, 1906, oil on canvas, 70 x 53 cm, Uffizi Gallery.