Marble Fountain in Italy
1907 Smithsonian American Art Museum
About this artwork
This watercolor depicts a classical-style stone fountain set against a vibrant, saturated blue sky. The work is characteristic of Sargent's late-career focus on plein air travel sketches throughout Italy.
Did you know?
John Singer Sargent is celebrated for his formal portraiture, but in his later years, he increasingly turned to watercolor to capture the light and atmosphere of his travels. This work demonstrates his mastery of the medium, using thin, translucent washes to suggest the textures of stone and the intense depth of an Italian summer sky. Sargent often gifted or sold these travel sketches to friends and fellow collectors, viewing them as a personal release from the rigors of commercial commission work.
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Marble Fountain in Italy
John Singer Sargent, 1907
