Organized with Tate Britain, “Fashioned by Sargent” explores the artist’s complex relationship with his often-affluent clients and their clothes, featuring about 50 paintings by Sargent, and over a dozen period garments and accessories.
In portraits by John Singer Sargent (1856–1925), sitters assume elegant stances, the fabric of their dress richly depicted in broad, sensuous strokes of paint. Sargent brought his subjects to life, but he did much more than simply record what appeared before him. He often chose what his sitters wore and, even if they arrived in his studio dressed in the latest fashions, he frequently simplified and altered the details. Exploiting dress was an integral part of his artistry.
The exhibition reveals Sargent’s power over his sitters’ images by considering the liberties he took with sartorial choices to express distinctive personalities, social positions, professions, gender identities, and nationalities.
“The coat is the picture,” Sargent once told Graham Robertson, clearly articulating the role dress played in his work. The exhibition features Robertson’s portrait as well as style icons like Madame X, Lady Agnew, and Dr. Pozzi at Home. Visitors can also see several paintings together with the garments worn by the sitters, among them Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth with her beetle-wing-encrusted costume, and Mrs. Charles Inches (Louise Pomeroy) with her red velvet evening gown. Step into the making of a Sargent portrait and consider ideas of curating—and controlling—one’s image.
“Unapologetically gorgeous”
–Boston Globe
“You can take Sargent out of fashion, but you cannot take the fashion out of Sargent.”
–Vogue
Everyone needs a ticket (general admission included) to visit this exhibition, including members.
“Fashioned by Sargent” + General Admission
Members
Free
|
Adults
$34.00
|
Youths 7–17
$17.00
|
Youths 0–6
Free
2023/10/08 - 2024/01/15
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, MA 02115
Self Parking Options
Visitors to the MFA have three self-parking options: the Huntington Lot, the Fenway Lot, and the Museum Road Garage, all of which have entrances on Museum Road. The Huntington lot offers closer parking to the Huntington Avenue Entrance and the Fenway parking lot is more accessible to the State Street Corporation Fenway Entrance.
All parking facilities have handicap spaces.
Please take your parking ticket with you; all parking facilities are automated. Payment for parking may be made in the garage lobby, or by credit or debit card at the exit lanes of the lots. Scan your membership card to receive the discounted rate.
For additional information, please call the garage at 617-369-3657.