Britain's What's On Event Guide
John Singer Sargent - At Home Everywhere and Nowhere
At home everywhere and nowhere. Travelling with John Singer Sargent
Mary Alexander
Wednesday 29 October 2025
NOTE VENUE: HAZELWOOD CENTENARY THEATRE RH8 0QU
Annual General Meeting at 1.30 pm
Lecture starts at 2.15 pm, Afternoon Only, Guests £10 on the door
In childhood and throughout his life, Sargent was described as being 'at home everywhere and nowhere.' Born in Florence to itinerant American parents, he adopted a frenetic pattern of international travel throughout his life. The range and duration of his travels is truly staggering. Renowned as a society portraitist, in 1909 his dramatic decision to refuse all further commissions provided a new found freedom. Sargent also indulged his fascination for all things 'curious' - a favourite word. Accommodation was variable - ranging from the White House in Washington DC to a tent in the mountains. We will explore his ability to capture a sense of place - the atmosphere, light, colours and textures of a land or seascape - with an intimately personal and often unusual interpretation. Whether it be luscious pomegranates in a Spanish orchard, brilliant hues of poppies in the Cotswolds, silver light on glistening fish in Norway, jewel-like reflections on water in Venice or Lake Garda, or the intense sunlight and heat of Morocco and the desert. And his most daring journey of all, in
1918 aged 62, as a war artist travelling to the war torn trenches in France. Many of the works shown will include examples from private collections around the world and correspondence and photographs from friends, family and travelling companions.
Mary Alexander
Wednesday 29 October 2025
NOTE VENUE: HAZELWOOD CENTENARY THEATRE RH8 0QU
Annual General Meeting at 1.30 pm
Lecture starts at 2.15 pm, Afternoon Only, Guests £10 on the door
In childhood and throughout his life, Sargent was described as being 'at home everywhere and nowhere.' Born in Florence to itinerant American parents, he adopted a frenetic pattern of international travel throughout his life. The range and duration of his travels is truly staggering. Renowned as a society portraitist, in 1909 his dramatic decision to refuse all further commissions provided a new found freedom. Sargent also indulged his fascination for all things 'curious' - a favourite word. Accommodation was variable - ranging from the White House in Washington DC to a tent in the mountains. We will explore his ability to capture a sense of place - the atmosphere, light, colours and textures of a land or seascape - with an intimately personal and often unusual interpretation. Whether it be luscious pomegranates in a Spanish orchard, brilliant hues of poppies in the Cotswolds, silver light on glistening fish in Norway, jewel-like reflections on water in Venice or Lake Garda, or the intense sunlight and heat of Morocco and the desert. And his most daring journey of all, in
1918 aged 62, as a war artist travelling to the war torn trenches in France. Many of the works shown will include examples from private collections around the world and correspondence and photographs from friends, family and travelling companions.
Wednesday 29 October
Hazelwood School Centenary Theatre Surrey RH8 0QU
Guests £10 on the door
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