John Singer Sargent
American, 1856–1925
A Venetian Interior
c. 1880–82
During several visits to Venice in the 1880s, Sargent chose to paint the everyday lives of its inhabitants rather than the city’s landmarks. Some of the women in this dimly lit interior string together Venetian glass beads, while others pause for a moment of convivial conversation. Bright light shines through the windows at the far end of the room, drawing our eyes into the otherwise dark, cool space.
| Medium | Oil on canvas |
| Dimensions | 19 1/16 x 23 15/16 in. (48.4 x 60.8 cm) Frame: 29 1/16 x 34 1/16 x 2 5/8 in. (73.8 x 86.5 x 6.7 cm) |
| Object Number | 1955.580 |
| Acquisition | Acquired by Sterling Clark, 1913 |
| Status | On Loan |
Image Caption
John Singer Sargent, A Venetian Interior, c. 1880–82, Oil on canvas. Acquired by Sterling Clark, 1913. The Clark Art Institute, 1955.580.
Bibliography
Conrads, Margaret C. American Paintings and Sculpture at the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. New York: Hudson Hills Press, 1990.
Provenance
The artist, by gift to Jean-Charles (1840-1901) and Marie (1844-1924) Cazin, Paris (probably 1881–82); Constant Coquelin, Sr. (1841-1901), Paris, by gift; Mme Meiris, Paris, by gift; [Georges Bernheim, Paris (by 1913)]; [M. Knoedler & Co., Paris, 25 September 1913, sold to Clark 29 November 1913]; Robert Sterling Clark (1913-1955); Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, 1955.
