"Portrait of Ralph Curtis on the Beach at Scheveningen" - John Singer Sargent, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, Georgia

Last month, Kimberly and I visited the High Museum of Art in Atlanta. My favorite piece in the collection was this small plein air painting by John Singer Sargent.
 

"Portrait of Ralph Curtis on the Beach at Scheveningen" • John Singer Sargent • 1880 • Oil on Panel • 10 1/2 x 13 3/16 inches

When compared with Sargent's more well known works, this is clearly a painting created just for fun during a visit to the Netherlands to study the works of Frans Hals. Ralph Curtis was Sargent's cousin, a fellow artist studying in Paris under Carolus-Duran.

The figure is dashed off, most likely painted in just a matter of minutes, and yet there is so much suggested detail.

The painting is covered with fine grains of sand, enough that I suspect Sargent dropped it face down after completion. I've experienced this myself on a few occasions.   

  

Photos by Kimberly at Saunders Fine Arts.

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