Charles Herbert Woodbury
1921
John Singer Sargent, a master of the academic tradition who later embraced Impressionist flair, captures his friend and fellow artist Charles Herbert Woodbury with incredible spontaneity. The handwritten note at the top, 'To my friend Charles Woodbury,' reveals this wasn't a stiff commission but a warm gesture between peers. Woodbury, known for his own seascapes, is depicted with a distinguished white beard and pince-nez glasses, gazing off with a thoughtful expression. Sargent’s loose, energetic brushstrokes make the portrait feel alive, proving he could convey a subject's character just as well in a quick study as in a grand formal painting.
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