How Will You Proceed Mr. Sargent?

Article by Darren R. Rousar

On the left, a detail of Sargent's portrait of Joseph Pulitzer. On the right, a detail of Sargent's self portrait.
On the left, a detail of Sargent’s portrait of Joseph Pulitzer. On the right, a detail of Sargent’s self portrait.

How Will You Proceed Mr. Sargent?

by Darren R. Rousar

In 1905 John Singer Sargent was commissioned to paint the portrait of Joseph Pulitzer. The sittings would take place in Sargent’s Tite Street studio in London. By this time in his career, Sargent had tired of portraiture. To make matters worse, Pulitzer was irascible. He was also blind.

Before commencing the portrait, Pulitzer asked Sargent how he would proceed.

How would you have responded to Pulitzer, knowing that he was blind? To find out what was Sargent’s response, you will have to see the top of page 169 in my book, The Sight-Size Cast.

At just over 300 pages, The Sight-Size Cast by Darren R. Rousar contains everything you need to know to learn how to see. Along the way you will read about how to draw and paint plaster casts in Sight-Size, the traditional starting point in many ateliers.

The Sight-Size Cast covers two complete cast drawings and one cast painting – all in Sight-Size. Additional materials include a look at the histories of Sight-Size and using plaster casts for arts instruction. You will also learn of the importance of seeing the big-look through impressionistic seeing.

Find out more, here.

The Sight-Size Cast banner.

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Sight-Size helps you confidently draw whatever you see because it assures accurate sight.