The art of John Singer Sargent is extraordinarily sensual in its evocation of textures, atmosphere, body gestures, and light. In this beautiful book, Trevor Fairbrother argues that viewing the artist as a sensualist connects otherwise conflicting elements of his oeuvre and offers a new interpretation of his life and work.

Fairbrother discusses the complex currents in Sargent's life, analyzes how these shaped his work, and shows how his skills as a draftsman formed the foundation for his rapid, broadly brushed painting style. The book is lavishly illustrated with numerous examples of Sargent's oils, watercolors, and sketches -- in particular his portraits and studies of models and dancers -- that amply demonstrate the sensual aspect of his art. Fairbrother describes how Sargent used incidental details to arouse visual shock and to delight his audience, pointing to such works as the portraits of London art dealer Asher Wertheimer and his family, as well as to the notorious Madame X, which created a furor at the 1884 Paris Salon. Fairbrother also gives special attention to a little-known series of expressive charcoal drawings of male nudes in Sargent's "Album of Figure Studies". All thirty-one sheets from this album are published together in color for the first time in this new study. In addition, Fairbrother addresses Venetian, Moroccan, and other exotic vignettes that show Sargent's fascination with dramatics of light, personalities, and locale.