The Arts Society Leicester present John Singer Sargent, The Private Radical
Speaker – Gavin Plumley
Whether drawing duchesses or portraying princes, John Singer Sargent (1856 – 1925) was high society’s leading portraitist. Flaunting a consummate technique, his luxurious canvases mirrored his subjects’ wealth. Yet beneath the dazzling veneer of works such as Madame X, The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit and Lady Agnew of Lochnaw, lurks a much rawer world by far. Sargent certainly scandalised Parisian society and the city’s Salon with his frank depictions of human sexuality, yet he was even more modern than they might have feared. This talk charts the artist’s life and his prolific output, showing that, like the era he came to represent, Sargent was always on the cusp of seismic change.
Further Information
From September to June ASL present a programme of lectures covering a wide range of interests and tastes with an informative line-up of speakers talking about a variety of subjects. Whether you come on your own or with friends you will be in the company of like-minded people in a vibrant environment of learning, sharing, and socialising.
Members – membership of ASL offers the chance to enjoy nine lectures a year in addition to many other benefits including newsletters and volunteering opportunities plus the option to take part in visits, study days and an annual social event.
Visitors – non-members are most welcome to attend up to two lectures annually, it is an excellent way to try out membership. Just come along and pay on the door, attendance at one lecture costs £7.