Who painted Mrs Carl Meyer and her Children?

Mrs Carl Meyer and her Children was painted by John Singer Sargent in 1898.

Where can I see Mrs Carl Meyer and her Children?

Mrs Carl Meyer and her Children is held by Tate.

What movement is Mrs Carl Meyer and her Children?

Mrs Carl Meyer and her Children is associated with Impressionism.

Can I buy a print of Mrs Carl Meyer and her Children?

Museum-quality prints of Mrs Carl Meyer and her Children are available made-to-order from Artifact World Gallery.

Artwork

Mrs Carl Meyer and her Children

John Singer Sargent , 1898

Mrs Carl Meyer and her Children is an oil painting by the Impressionist artist John Singer Sargent. It dates from 1898 and is held in the collection of the Tate.

About this work

Overview

John Singer Sargent’s 1898 oil portrait presents Adele Meyer together with her two children, Elsie Charlotte and Sir Frank Meyer. The family is arranged on a sofa and an armchair, creating an intimate domestic scene that reflects the genteel atmosphere of the late‑Victorian era.

Subject & Meaning

The composition emphasizes maternal care and familial status: Adele, dressed in a pink gown with a black belt and pearl necklace, cradles a young child in a white dress, while a black cat rests on her lap, a subtle symbol of domestic comfort. The presence of the older son, Sir Frank, further underscores the family’s social standing.

Technique & Style

Executed with Sargent’s characteristic precision, the painting captures the texture of fabrics, the sheen of the pearl necklace, and the plush upholstery of the furniture. Muted tones of gray, brown, and soft pink dominate, while delicate brushwork renders the folds of the dresses and the fur of the cat with realistic detail.

History & Provenance

Sargent, an American expatriate who trained in Florence and Paris before establishing his career in London, produced this work during his prolific period of portraiture for the Belle Époque and Edwardian elite. The painting has remained in private collections linked to the Meyer family since its creation.

Context

Created at the height of the Impressionist influence, the portrait balances realistic representation with a softened palette, reflecting the transitional aesthetic between strict academic portraiture and the looser, light‑focused approach of contemporary French art.

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Artist & collection

Artist

John Singer Sargent

John Singer Sargent (; January 12, 1856 – April 15, 1925) was an American expatriate artist, considered the "leading portrait painter of his generation" for his evocations of Belle Époque and Edwardian-era luxury.