Yesterday, while returning from a shopping trip for an upcoming drawing series, I passed by one of my favorite museums: the Musée d’Orsay. There were few people around, and the wind was blowing from the Seine, which runs alongside this former railway station built for the 1900 World’s Fair—a symbol of early 20th-century industrial architecture. Converted into a museum in 1986, it is primarily dedicated to the arts of the 19th and early 20th centuries, covering the pivotal period between 1848 and 1914. Its rich collections of paintings, sculptures, decorative arts, and photographs focus on Impressionism, Post-Impressionism, and Art Nouveau.
I used to wander its halls aimlessly, sketching as I went. But this time, I remembered that my old friend Sébastien Jupille de Figura had strongly recommended I see a rare exhibition of John Singer Sargent (1856–1925).
This American painter, born in Florence, is famous for his elegant and realistic portraits of European and American aristocracy in the late 19th century. Trained in Paris, he left his mark on the era with a style blending realism and impressionism, especially in works like Madame X or The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit. Though criticized (if not envied) for his commercial success, he was one of the most sought-after portraitists of his time, also exploring landscapes and genre scenes.
I was not disappointed, and today I’m sharing my visit and the drawings that followed. You’ll forgive the vertical videos and the remaining background noise—just a few more things to fix.
Venetian Interior, John Singer Sargent, 1880-1882
Patio de los arrayanes at the Alhambra Palace, Granada - 1879
Dancing Faun, after Antiquity - 1876
Madame X, 1883-1884, The Metropolitan Museum of Art
Detail of “Portrait of Mr. Edouard Pailleron and Miss Marie-Louise Pailleron - 1881
If you’re in Paris, the exhibition runs until January 11, 2026.
Otherwise, enjoy your visit
Love,
