Photo of collection object In a Medici Villa
Sargent, John Singer. In a Medici Villa, 1906. Translucent watercolor and touches of opaque watercolor with graphite underdrawing, 21 3/16 x 14 3/8in. (53.8 x 36.5cm) frame: 36 1/4 x 28 1/4 x 1 7/8 in. (92.1 x 71.8 x 4.8 cm). Purchased by Special Subscription, 09.826. No known copyright restrictions.

In a Medici Villa

1906

John Singer Sargent

American, born Italy, 1856-1925

American Art

The setting for this vividly bright watercolor was the classical Renaissance garden at the Villa Medici di Castello, designed by Niccolò Tribolo to extol Cosimo de’ Medici’s reign over the nearby city of Florence. The garden was laid out on an incline, with geometrically designed box and herb hedges as a backdrop for grand fountains by Benedetto Varchi. Although Sargent featured the imposing Hercules and Antaeus fountain, he summarily cropped away the two battling bronze figures at its top and nearly erased the smaller bronze boys perched on the edge of the lower basin. He directed his eye to transcribe only the bleached outlines and tinted shadows of the wide basins and decorative stone carvings in the raking glare.
Classification
Watercolor
Formatted Medium
Translucent watercolor and touches of opaque watercolor with graphite underdrawing
Dimensions
21 3/16 x 14 3/8in. (53.8 x 36.5cm) frame: 36 1/4 x 28 1/4 x 1 7/8 in. (92.1 x 71.8 x 4.8 cm)
Departments
American Art
Accession Number
09.826
Credit Line
Purchased by Special Subscription
Rights Statement
No known copyright restrictions
Dominant Colors

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