An oil sketch by John Singer Sargent of one of his most famous models will be returned to the English country house where it was painted after being acquired by the National Trust.
Sargent’s sketch of Elsie Palmer, which was done in preparation for his masterpiece A Lady in White, will go on display at Ightham Mote in Kent, where the Palmer family lived and hosted artistic and literary gatherings for the likes of the actor Ellen Terry and the novelist Henry James in the late 1890s.
Sargent, who went on to become the leading portrait artist of his generation, was also a frequent guest of the American family. Having moved from Paris to London, he was trying to establish himself as a portraitist and was kept afloat by discerning patrons such as the Palmers.
The period in which Sargent painted Elsie Palmer was one of the most creative in his career and the pair remained close friends until his death in 1925.
In this sketch, the 17-year-old is shown wearing a silk dress, tied at the waist, standing with her favourite collie dog lying at her feet in the great hall at Ightham Mote. Features of the interior of the home are recognisable in the background, such as the trefoil window, wood panelling, fireplace and carpet, all of which can still be seen today.
The sketch demonstrates the artist’s ability to capture pose and atmosphere in a few bold strokes, and is one of a number of works created in preparation for A Lady in White – which depicted Palmer seated in a silk dress against the linenfold panelling of Ightham Mote.
That painting is now in the collection of Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center, but the preparatory oil, which has been in the Palmer family since it was painted, has been acquired by the National Trust from Palmer’s granddaughter Jane Kasmin.
“Sargent painted Elsie at one of the most creative moments in his career before he was ensnared by popular success,” said Richard Ormond, Sargent’s great-nephew and an art historian. “Unlike the finished portrait where Elsie is seated, the sketch intriguingly shows her standing, demonstrating how much thought went into the design of the portrait before the final pose was selected.
“The sketch is painted with great verve … the beauty and grace of the young girl in her white dress stand out from the mysterious darkness of the great hall. Her long, free-flowing hair and ankle-length dress indicate her girlhood status before her entry into society as an adult woman.”
Bernadette Gillow, the general manager at Ightham Mote, said: “Due to the frequent changes of people who owned or leased the house, many objects associated with it were dispersed prior to being donated to the National Trust in 1985. Three years ago, we managed to acquire and bring home a painting by Sargent that was also created here, of the Palmer family enjoying a game of bowls in the garden.
“This latest acquisition is a rare and highly significant addition for Ightham Mote. We are thrilled that Elsie has come home and that we can share this charming depiction of her with our visitors.”
