Woman with Cattleya Orchid

By far the most celebrated portraitist of his generation, John Singer Sargent’s work reflects his singular ability to capture not only a sitter’s likeness, but also their character, in paint. The present work exemplifies the artist’s iconic style, employing expressive brushwork and subtle light effects to create an evocative, intimate depiction of his subject. The dark clothing and background starkly juxtapose the bright pink of the simplified orchid and the woman’s light features. Directly confronting the viewer with her gaze, Sargent beautifully paints a self-assured, arresting depiction of his sitter.

While unidentifiable, the sitter in the present work bears resemblance to celebrated English actor Dame Ellen Terry who was popular throughout the second half of the 19^th Century for leading rolls in Shakespeare plays such as Othello, Much Ado About Nothing, Romeo and Juliet, Twelfth Night and Macbeth. In visual culture, she is most well-known through Sargent’s famed Ellen Terry as Lady Macbeth of 1889 (Tate Britain, London, United Kingdom).