Ruth Sears Bacon
John Singer Sargent·1887
Historical Context
John Singer Sargent's portrait of Ruth Sears Bacon (1887) belongs to his extensive practice of portraying American expatriate women and women connected to his social circle in England. Ruth Sears Bacon was part of the Boston social world that Sargent was increasingly serving as his London portrait practice developed. His portraits of young American women have a characteristic quality — a blend of social confidence and individual personality that he captured through his brilliant alla prima technique. By 1887 his reputation was growing rapidly following the Salon successes that had rehabilitated him after the 'Madame X' scandal.
Technical Analysis
Sargent's handling in the 1887 portrait shows his mature technique fully formed — the face captured through decisive, seemingly effortless strokes that convey both likeness and character. His ability to render the quality of light on skin through varied marks of pure or nearly pure color gives his portraits their characteristic luminous freshness. The dress and background are handled with appropriate looseness, focusing the pictorial energy on the face.
