John Singer Sargent (Florence, 1856 - 1925, London)
A Tent in the Rockies, about 1916
Watercolor on paper , 38 x 52 cm (14 15/16 x 20 1/2 in.)
This horizontal watercolor shows a large white open tent set in a forest. In the background is a grove of pine trees, some in shadow in the rear and the ones closer in painted in shades of green and brown. A pale blue sky with white wispy clouds can be seen in the space between the trees. In the foreground is the tent resting on the flat, green forest floor. Branches and small rocks are on the ground. The tent is made of white fabric which is draped over tall birch branches. Two branches form a “V” in front with another branch over the top. The front panels of the tent are folded back and hooked over the birch branches. A red mat, white metal pan, and other indistinct items are on the floor inside the tent. In the bottom corner to your left is the signature John S. Sargent.
Blue Room
Commentary
Sargent began many of his watercolors with careful pencil drawings that laid out the overall composition of each picture. If you look closely you can see traces of pencil in the folds of the tent’s opening. Light and shade effects, however, were rarely indicated through pencil under-drawings. Sargent would leave that to the skill of his brush in mixing colors, giving his watercolors their fresh beauty.