Thread: John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) was a great American painter. He was a dashing portraitist as well as one of the first major artists to explore his sexuality in his art. His technical genius, response to beauty & revolutionary approach are now beginning to be recognised.
Sargent was an outsider; an American abroad. He was further set apart by his sexuality. Described in the euphemism of the time as a ‘lifelong bachelor’, he was in fact gay & fascinated with men. Bartholomy Magagnosco (c1875), Frank O’Meara (c1876), Young Man in Reverie (1876)
I think everyone should have access to original artwork & so set up an Affordable Art Project. When you purchase an artwork you can choose a second one free. Take a look:
He studied the male form in the approved Academic approach & also as a form of personal meaning. Works for himself, such as these three, explored the idea of his own attraction. Male Model (c1875-7), Male Model (1878) & Portrait of a Sailor (1878)
The male model in these two works appears in a number of his studies & suggests there might be more than just the professional relationship between artist & model. Male Model with Wreath of Laurel (both c1878), Self-Portrait (c1877-80) & Two Nude Figures (c1879-80)
We know that the aristocratic Belleroche was the love of Sargent’s life & a painting of him hung in Sargent’s house until his death. Here he is in four guises. Albert de Belleroche (c1882), Head of a Spanish Musician (c1880-2) & Albert de Belleroche (c1883) & Study (c1882-3)
d’Inverno was an important model for Sargent too & appears to have been his type with his 1970s ‘Frisco macho good looks. Nicola d’Inverno (c1888), Head of a Young Man (c1900) & Figure Study (c1904). The latter is d’Inverno posing for him.
Here we have d’Inverno in a range of poses. These differ from the usual Academic studies of men in being sensual & erotic images of the male form. Italian Model (c1904), Male Model Resting (c1904), Male Model Seated (c1904) & Male Model Standing (c1904)
Sargent was one of the finest watercolourists & he used that genius to depict flesh & mood in a manner that has rarely been surpassed. Man with Red Drapery (c1904), Study of a Male Nude Figure (1904) & Studies of a Male Nude Reclining (c1904)
Here is one of Sargent’s paintings of Gondoliers (about whom he was besotted). Also shown is his fascination with sleepers. Gondolier (1905), Siesta (1905) & Peter Harrison Asleep (c1905)
A century ago being gay could lead to imprisonment & hard labour so Sargent’s work in revealing a hidden gay world is revolutionary. Nicola Reading (c1904-7) is an image of his lover & Bather, Florida (1917) was painted on an estate there owned by a gay couple.
Sleep & Bathers were his excuse for depicting the male form outside the studio. Highlanders Resting at the Front (1918), The Bathers (1917), Man & Pool (1917) & Nude Man Lying on Bed (1917). The latter is an astonishingly modern work.
As a war artist his approach was unprecedented. His depiction of an Arcadian setting with nude young men is in stark contrast to the fact they would soon be likely to be hideously maimed or killed. Thou Shalt Not Steal (1918), Tommies Bathing (1918) & Tommies Bathing (1918)
Thomas McKellar (c1916-24) & Model (nd). The latter three drawings are of d’Inverno (c1904) & show Sargent’s superbly sensuous & powerful nudes. Each work would have taken a couple of hours & were done in a period of great artistic virility.
Self-Portrait (1892) & Studies of Nicola d’Inverno (c1904). With a growing awareness of Sargent’s exploration of his private life his importance has risen - he can no longer be dismissed as just a high society portraitist.
Sargent drew many superb nudes so I’ll share some more examples. Dating of drawings is not as well developed as the paintings.
He appears to have continued to draw academies (as such nudes are called) throughout his life & his style & subtlety of line evolved over time. He had a superb facility to create form & emotion
Sargent’s drawings have a profound authenticity which is why they are so clearly erotic in impact. We are seeing & feeling what the artist saw & felt. The genius of Sargent’s approach is that his images are sensuous yet never tawdry.
Sargent’s greatest delight was beauty - & that included, of course, handsome men. The oil portrait is of Edward Vickers & is lyrical & sensitive. Despite the cruelty of the time the artist painted images of gay life & love & persevered.
With Sargent there will always be an Edwardian summer, sunlit gardens, hidden love & nostalgic beauty in his art.

The Great War would end all that in reality.

Today his images & bravery are finally beginning to be recognised & rightfully so.
Here’s more on the project to make original art more accessible. It’s your chance to own some of my work affordably.

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More from @RobertBohan

Feb 17
The end goal of the so-called ‘Gender Critical’ transphobes - the reintroduction of Section 28 (a British law that institutionalised homophobia, 1988-2003) except now it’s described as ‘the biased views of Stonewall’. Stonewall represents the LGBTQI community.
Britain has a homophobic prime minister, a Transphobic FM & a head of its Equality & Human Rights Commission who claims she doesn’t know what Transphobia is & meets with Transphobic hate groups.

The UK is in big trouble. pinknews.co.uk/2022/02/11/ehr…
Stonewall is the largest & most respected LGBTQI charity in Europe. It fights for the equality of all the community. It has been a target of the far right for some time. The U.K. has not learnt the lesson of the Holocaust & is persecuting Trans people. time.com/5953047/lgbtq-…
Read 11 tweets
Feb 16
Delia Murphy (1902-71) was one of the most fascinating & brave Irish women to have lived. On top of that she was a gifted musician & an important part of Irish diplomacy.
Murphy’s sang froid & consideration for others is shown where she literally sang through the Belfast Blitz (15 April 1941) & encouraged people to stay in place. This highlighted her love of art & of humanity - she saved many lives with her advice: wartimeni.com/person/delia-m…
She was known as the Blackbird after one of her most popular songs as well as ‘the Queen of Connemara’. She learnt many of her ballads from Irish Travellers (Mincéirí) who camped on her estate. Tom Maugham taught her ‘If I were a Blackbird’: con-telegraph.ie/2021/02/20/del…
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Feb 15
One woman made a joke about Adele being a Transphobe on Twitter (she’s not). This was mendaciously used by a ‘journo’ to claim that Trans people were criticising her for saying she loved being a woman. Every right wing media source jumped in to spread hate against Trans people
I know that ethics is not popular with the media but using one (joking) person on Twitter to fuel a worldwide attack on Trans people is seriously messed up. It’s also the definition of Transphobia. Do better. Image
For some reason the media (I’m looking at BBC, RTÉ, Irish Times, London Times & Guardian especially) think it’s OK to be hateful to Trans people & manufacture baseless stories. It’s not. It wasn’t OK in the 80s when they were doing gay bashing, it isn’t now. Image
Read 5 tweets
Feb 1
Death, be not proud, though some have called thee
Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so;
For those whom thou think'st thou dost overthrow
Die not, poor Death, nor yet canst thou kill me.
From rest and sleep, which but thy pictures be,
Much pleasure; then from thee much more must flow,
And soonest our best men with thee do go,
Rest of their bones, and soul's delivery.
Thou art slave to fate, chance, kings, and desperate men,
Read 5 tweets
Feb 1
Thread: Today is Imbolc, which celebrates the first day of Spring in Ireland. It is an ancient Celtic feast & is marked as St Bridget’s Day, it’s Christian re-incarnation. In schools children make St Bridget’s crosses to celebrate it. (pictured: Hill of Tara) #StBrigidsDay
Harry Clarke’s studio depicted her unique cross in their stained glass windows. Here’s the ‘Saint’ & her cross. Historians now believe she is an integration of an early medieval Kildare Abbess & a Celtic goddess. Because of this she holds a popular place in Irish tradition
Intriguingly, traditions re prophecy are associated with the feast in Ireland. Irish Hedgehogs may have been the inspiration of ‘Groundhog Day’. It’s said if one comes out of its burrow, on the day & doesn’t scuttle back in, then good weather is augured! (Pic: Irish Examiner)
Read 20 tweets
Jan 31
Due to a family bereavement responses & shipping will be delayed**. I’ll extend the deadline.

Check in on friends & family & let them know they are loved.
Until February 2nd** I have a v special offer with 2 original ink on paper drawings for just €99/£85*

Normally they are €149 each.

The Blue Angel (2022)
Buy here: etsy.me/3fvZrvc

Sun Flower (2022)
Buy here: etsy.me/3txCFeA
Outside U.K./Ireland it’s 2 for just €189 ($215US*). Choose yours & message me!

*US/U.K. prices subject to exchange rate.

Standing Angel (2022)
Buy here: etsy.me/3KjwxML

Daffodils (2022)
Buy here: etsy.me/3u34f3J
Read 14 tweets

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