MFAH Friday-Saturday Lecture: Brush to Paper: Situating Sargent in the History of Watercolor

The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston presents a MFAH Friday-Saturday Lecture: Brush to Paper: Situating Sargent in the History of Watercolor Friday, May 23 at 1:30pm (and repeated Saturday, May 24 at 4pm).  Presented by Dena M. Woodall, PhD, associate curator of prints and drawings.

One of John Singer Sargent’s favorite media was watercolor, which he embraced throughout his career for its freedom and spontaneity. Water-based painting has been used by Western artists since before the Renaissance, and it reached a height of popularity among artists in England and France during the 18th and 19th centuries.

Dena M. Woodall examines the rise of watercolor as an art medium, made possible because of advancements made in pigments, brushes, and paper. She also situates Sargent in a broader art historical context, exploring how Sargent adapted watercolor to best capture his subjects.

This lecture is presented in conjunction with John Singer Sargent: The Watercolors.

About the Friday and Saturday Afternoon Lecture Series
This series of lectures is held on Fridays at 1:30 p.m. with a repeat on Saturdays at 4 p.m. in Brown Auditorium Theater. A reception to meet the speaker and a “Your Turn to Speak” tour follow each lecture.

Pictured: John Singer Sargent, Bedouins, c. 1905–06, opaque and translucent watercolor, Brooklyn Museum, purchased by Special Subscription.