It's not just his skill with painting the physiology of hands. As accomplished as Sargent was with them, it's their gestures that usually floor me. He said so much with pose, gesture and relationship, all contributing what I often think of as a languid quality to his portraits, especially the women. Such a nice account of your visit.
So right about those hands. I had the same experience last week at the Farnese show at the Capitoline Museum in Rome-- the hands of one statue were just too graceful to take your eyes off. Once those long, seeking fingers grab hold, it's hard to tear yourself away...
It's not just his skill with painting the physiology of hands. As accomplished as Sargent was with them, it's their gestures that usually floor me. He said so much with pose, gesture and relationship, all contributing what I often think of as a languid quality to his portraits, especially the women. Such a nice account of your visit.
Thanks for the inspiration, will have to check out the exhibit at the Met!
So right about those hands. I had the same experience last week at the Farnese show at the Capitoline Museum in Rome-- the hands of one statue were just too graceful to take your eyes off. Once those long, seeking fingers grab hold, it's hard to tear yourself away...