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Thursday, September 10, 2026

Virtual Talk - Fashioned by Sargent

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John Singer Sargent was one of the most celebrated American portraitists of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, renowned for capturing the elite figures of the Gilded Age.  

Sargent exercised remarkable control over how his sitters were presented, using dress to convey character, status, profession, gender, and cultural identity. Fashion was not merely decorative in Sargent’s paintings—it was central to his artistic vision.

In this docent-led talk, we will examine how Sargent shaped public images of the wealthy and influential through these deliberate choices, and how his portraits reveal broader social values at the turn of the twentieth century. We will also revisit the controversy surrounding his infamous portrait of Madame X, exploring how public reaction shaped both his career and his legacy.

Note that you will be muted upon entry and that this talk is being recorded as well as live-streamed. Please save all questions for the end.

Join us live on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/3619124148229857
Note that this talk is being recorded as well as live-streamed. Please save all questions for the end.

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You can find all of our previous Virtual Talks on our Facebook Page (@timkenmuseum). If you would like to support the continuation of our free tours and education programming, please consider donating to the Timken Museum of Art at https://www.timkenmuseum.org/join-support/your-giving/.