Organized with Tate Britain, “Fashioned by Sargent” explores the artist’s complex relationship with his often-affluent clients and their clothes. We’ll tour the exhibition that reveals Sargent’s power over his sitters’ images by considering the liberties he took with clothing styles to express distinctive personalities, social positions, professions, gender identities, and nationalities. Alongside about 50 paintings by Sargent, over a dozen period garments and accessories shed new light on the relationship between fashion and this beloved artist’s creative practice.
The exhibition features Robertson’s portrait as well as style icons like Madame X, Lady Agnew, and Dr. Pozzi at Home. Additionally, 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, will be on view. Lunch is on our own at one of the MFA’s dining locations.
Guide: Jeanne Fontaine
Wednesday, January 10
Depart: 8:30 am; return: 5:30 pm
Includes timed and general admission, bus travel and driver tip.
Image: John Singer Sargent, Lady Agnew of Lochnaw, 1892. Oil on canvas. National Galleries of Scotland, purchased with the aid of the Cowan Smith Bequest Fund, 1925. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
