Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1890-07-19
$1,000 A PORTRAIT.
That IL what Americas Most Famous
Portrait Painter Gets for Hts Work.
iSpecini (s,rr,,stpn,ienccl

That IL What America's Most Famous
Portrait Painter Gets for Hts work.
Especial Corrspcndenccl
New York, July IA portrait paint
er who can pick up $4,000 in four
months by tho skillful welding of his
brush might reasonably be called sue
cessful. To put it otherwise, John Sar-
gent might bc styled a successful artist.
To put II in still another form, and as it
really is, John Sargent is the most fa-
nous American portrait paitHer.
Mr.. Sargent Is one of the few Ameri-
can disciples Of portraiturc--.the only
one, 10 far ~ l know, who can COM
niand 5000 for single portrait. That
he can command these remunerative
prices for his work, and that he has no
trouble in getting all tho work hc wants,
Is shown by the fact that, as intimated
above, no pockcted $4,000 as the fruit
Of four months jaunt over to his ma
tive country u couple Of years or 30 ago
His reputation on this side Of the water
Is Of the best, and he could coin money
were no to live here, but somehow
Mr.. Sargent prefers London, and has
all but become an Englishman. He gen.
orally runs over here In the summer,
paints u few 5000 portraits in order to
pay his travelling expenses, aud then hies
himself Britainward. He was over here
In New York On one of his periodical
pilgrinages few weeks ago, and welded
his brush at u dollar or 90 stroke in his
studio on Twonty-third street. saw
him one evening at IN artists gathering.
He IL not of particularly striking appear
ance, but the refinement of his manner
cannot fail to impress any ono who meets
him.
In stature he il neither tall nor short
Apparently be has yet to pass to the
shady side Of forty years. His full
brown beard is fashionably trimmed,
and about il and the face there IL some
thing that suggests the artist. The
famous artist does not go out In society
u great deal on this side of the water,
though he would be welcomed every
where were he no disposed. In Paris
and London he has the entree In the
most exclusive circles, and liz q social
lion in his quiet way.
Carolus Duran, probably tho greatest
living French portrait painter, was his
master, and there arc not u few connois-
seurs who hold that the pupil has sur
passed the master. Duran and Sargent
continued their friendship which grew
out Of their associations in tho formers
studio for many years after the pupil
had branched out for himself, and the
best portrait of the great French master
extant was painted by the great Amer
lean master. Something caused trouble
between them, though, and they ar,
not now ON speaking terms.
Sargents work in some respects re
seimbles that Of tho world famous Span
lard, Velasquez, and il issaid that the in
huence of Columbus conntryman IL dis
tinctly traccable in the 5000 works Of
the native Of the country which Colnm
bus rescued from oblivion. Be that ~
IL may, Sargent has painted portraits o.
some Of the wealthiest Americans, In
Guiding the wife Of the late William ii
Vanderbilt, and the galleries Of most o
the millionaire art patrons Of Amcrici
have specimens of ms work. One Of hi
latest American works is the mucl
talked Of portrait of tho sprightly Car
mencita OF terpsichorean fame.
EDWARD BUNNEI.I. PHELPS.