John Singer Sargent: Murals and La Carmencita

"La Carmencita" by J.S. Sargent

"When Edwin Austin Abbey returned to England he sought for a place where he could work undisturbed. Wanderings through the West Country finally brought him to Fairford, where in Morgan Hall he saw the very house he wanted. This was in the autumn of 1890. He entered into a lease for twenty-one years and at once began the construction in the grounds of a studio 64 feet long by 40 feet by 25 feet. There in November, 1891, Sargent joined him, and in cordial association carried out much of the preliminary work for the Boston Library designs.

Sargent meanwhile had remained in New York through the summer of 1890, pushing on with studies for his decorative scheme, and filling up the intervals with painting a number of portraits and a study of Carmencita, a Spanish dancer recently arrived from Europe. The public of New York enthralled by her beauty and sensational dancing. 

She was reminiscent of the sources from which his picture of 'El Jaleo' had been drawn. In mood she was wayward, now sullen and subdued, then breaking into tempests of anger and impatience, ready to smash anything that was to hand or, again, sinking into an entirely childish readiness to be diverted or amused. She found posing intolerable. Movement was the essence of her existence. Sargent had to exercise his ingenuity. He used to paint his nose red to rivet her childish interest upon himself, and when the red nose failed he would fascinate her by eating his cigar. This performance was the dancer's delight.

Sargent was anxious that Mrs. Gardner should see this 'bewilderingly superb creature,' and in the end a party was given by her at the Tenth Street studio of William Chase. Sargent was seated on the floor. The studio was dimly lit. At the end of the room was just such a scene as he had represented in 'El Jaleo.' Carmencita, a light thrown on her from below, now writhing like a serpent, now with an arrogant elegance strutted the stage with a shadowy row of guitarists in the background strumming their heady Spanish music. Before she had danced many steps she threw a rose at her painter as he sat in the half-light on the floor. He picked it up, and put it in his buttonhole.

The picture painted by Sargent was  exhibited at the Society of American Artists at New York in 1890, at the Royal Academy in 1891, and at the Exhibition of American Art in 1919, and it now hangs in the Luxembourg. When the picture was exhibited in New York an admirer offered 600 pounds. Sargent said, 'I was unable to accept it as it had cost me more than that to paint.' 'Cost you more! how do you mean?' 'Why, in bracelets and things.' To such an extent had this capricious beauty to be coaxed before she would fulfill her promise to pose."

To be continued

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