John Singer Sargent: Outside the Frame

The most famous portrait artist of his day, John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) was born in Italy to American parents, enjoyed an international upbringing, and by the age of 18 was ensconced at the École des Beaux Arts in Paris. At 22 he received official salon recognition and was already stretching the conventions of composition and subject matter, sometimes to controversial effect. Sargent enjoyed great honors as well as rejection, but after World War I (when he was appointed Official War Artist), modernism and abstract art became the fashion, overshadowing his rich, prolific legacy. Today, his body of work has been reassessed, to his advantage, and this excellent documentary, narrated by Jacqueline Bisset, examines the key points of his career, focusing on representative works from each period. Combining informative historical context, sage commentary from art historians on the magnificent parade of works, and personal photographs of the artist and his milieu, this exquisite, flawlessly produced portrait is highly recommended and should be considered an essential purchase for art history collections. Editor's Choice. Aud: H, C, P. (J. Reed)