Artwork
The Sphinx and the Chimaera
The Sphinx and the Chimaera is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist John Singer Sargent. It dates from 1921 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
About this work
Overview
The Sphinx and the Chimaera is a 1921 oil painting by John Singer Sargent, an American artist who worked primarily in Europe. The work is now held by the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts two mythological creatures: a sphinx, with a human head and lion's body, and a chimaera, with a goat's head, lion's body, and serpentine tail. The figures are intertwined, with the chimaera holding a whip, and are shrouded in flowing drapery.
Technique & Style
Sargent employed soft brushstrokes and chiaroscuro, a technique using strong contrasts between light and dark, to create a sense of drama and volume in the figures. The dark background is relieved by a faint glow around the edges, adding to the overall effect.
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.
