John Singer Sargent: In the Studio of Edwin Austin Abbey

Edwin Austen Abbey's portion of the studio at Morgan Hall

"In November, 1891, John Singer Sargent joined Edwin Austin Abbey and his family at Morgan Hall, Fairford, and there for certain months in each year till 1895 he remained to share the studio and to pursue his Boston Library decorations. Two students were chosen to assist them, James Finn and Wilfrid de Glehn, the latter becoming one of Sargent's staunchest friends.

Work would begin at nine or nine-thirty every morning and continue till dark, the studio being divided into a Sargent territory and an Abbey territory. An Italian named Colarossi came as model for Sargent, and one Demarco, 'who had a very beautiful head,' posed for Abbey.

Later on a younger model became necessary for Sargent's purposes and an Italian named Inverno was chosen. This was the brother of Nicola d'Inverno, who subsequently in 1893 came to the studio as a model and remained in Sargent's service more than twenty years. He used to pose for the frieze of the prophets and other portions of the decorative work, and was constantly in attendance, assisting in the preparation of the 'relief' work for the Boston Library, and looking after the mechanical accessories of the artist's work, accompanying Sargent abroad and taking charge of brushes, canvases and paints. Nicola wrote his recollections of Sargent in the Boston 'Sunday Advertiser,' Feb. 7, 1926 and concluded: 'Every hour I spent in his service will be a precious memory for ever. The world calls him a great, I know him to be a good, man.'"

To be continued

(Excerpts from "John Sargent" by Evan Charteris.)