Category: Arts

The story behind John Singer Sargent’s artwork Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose (1885-1886) is an oil on canvas painting by American artist John Singer Sargent. The painting depicts two small children dressed in a vintage white long dress who are lighting lanterns in a garden with pink roses that seems to be spreading all over the place, with accents of yellow carnations and tall white lilies behind them. The main objects are the daughter of the illustrator Frederick Barnard – a dear friend of the artist. On the right side is Dolly Barnard (11 years old), while on the left side is Polly Barnard (7 years old). The inspiration for the unique lighting effect came during Sargent’s trip to River Thames at Pangbourne with his fellow American artist Edwin Austin Abbey in September 1885. He saw lanterns hanging among trees and lilies during the journey while boating. At that moment, he had this urge to capture the precise light level at dusk, so he painted the picture en plein air – a French term for ‘painting outdoors’ perfectly mixed with an impressionist style. He would place his easel and other tools beforehand and pose his models in anticipation of the few moments when he could paint it at a perfect time. From September to November 1885, he painted its artwork in the few minutes when the light began to turn its color – blending in perfectly, catching its delicate shades before the light faded into the evening when the sun started to sets as far to the southwest. The flowers in the garden seem like it has died and been replaced with artificial flowers as summer has turned into autumn; as expected, something would change when the seasons change. He finished this artwork the following summer at Millet’s new home nearby Broadway by the end of October 1886. The painting is dominated by green foliage, with no horizon that, in other words, seems to give a sense of depth. Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose is set in an English garden at Farnham House on Broadway in the Cotswolds, where Sargent spent the summer with Francis David Millet around 1885, shortly after moving to England from Paris. Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose was first exhibited in the Royal Academy’s Summer Exhibition in 1887. The painting received a critical reception from its audiences. However, it also received praises and well-deserved recognition from audiences and critics and is known as an “extremely original and daring essay in decoration.” The Royal Academy immediately purchased the painting for the British nation through Chantrey Bequest, a special trust fund established by Sculptor Sir Francis Chantrey in 1875. Royal Academy President Lord Leighton and the other Royal Academicians, including Sir Lawrence Alma-Tadema and William Quiller Orchardson, supported the acquisition. Details Artist: John Singer Sargent Title: Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose Date: 1885 – 1886 Style: Impressionism Genre: Genre painting Location: Tate Britain, London, UK Dimension: 153.7 cm x 174 cm Oil on canvas The viewers can visit its painting at Tate Britain, London, UK. It has now become one of the gallery’s most loved paintings. Tate ↗ Reference Wikipedia ↗ Wikiart ↗ Reference Royal Academy ↗ Reference