Artwork
Ruth Sears Bacon
Ruth Sears Bacon is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist John Singer Sargent. It dates from 1894 and is held in the collection of the Wadsworth Atheneum Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
Ruth Sears Bacon is an 1894 oil painting by John Singer Sargent, depicting a young girl seated in a chair, directly engaging the viewer. Characteristic of Sargent's portraiture, the work balances simplicity with nuanced depth.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Ruth Sears Bacon, is portrayed in a contemplative, introspective manner, clad in a modest yet elegant white dress with a dark belt. Her direct gaze and clasped hands convey a sense of quiet confidence and poise.
Technique & Style
Sargent employs soft, muted background tones to focus attention on the subject, while his mastery of light and shadow imbues the portrait with depth and dimensionality, aligning with American Impressionist tendencies.
History & Provenance
Created in 1894, the painting is part of the Nationalmuseum's collection, reflecting Sargent's prolific output of portraits alongside his watercolors and sketches during his European and American travels.
Artist & collection
Artist
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.
Girl in white
Seated Boy
Portrait of the artist's daughter
Ernesta (Child with Nurse)
Frances Lee Weeks
A Little Girl, Helga Melchior, in a Long Dress
A Little Girl, Helga Melchior, in a Long Dress
Tytön pää, harjoitelma vapaaherra Viktor Magnus von Bornin perhemuotokuvaa varten
Adelaide
Cynthia
Portrait of Jane Shattuck
Marion Pond (Mrs. Kenneth Bacon Bond)