Miss Poppy Graeme

Artist John Singer Sargent (Florence, Italy, 1856 - 1925)

Sitter Poppy Graeme

Date1881

Mediumoil on canvas

ClassificationsPaintings And Drawings

DimensionsOverall: Height: 56.1 cm, Width: 49.8 cm
Frame: Height: 89.2 cm, Width: 76.4 cm

AcquisitionPresented in 1934 by Joseph Farquharson.

CopyrightOut of copyright - CC0

LocationView by Appointment - Aberdeen Treasure Hub

Object numberABDAG003405

Keywords

About MeSargent painted this portrait of Poppy Graeme as a thank you to Joseph Farquharson, who had lent him his London house and studio whilst Farquharson was in Egypt. Poppy was a neice of Farquharson's step-mother Mary Anne Girdwood and was then living in the house. Poppy Graeme stayed both at Farquharson's family estate of Finzean and in London with them.

The limited palette and dark effect contrasted with bold highlights and strong lighting hitting the sitter from the right all suggest the influence of Rembrandt. It is a spontaneous, relaxed and intimate image, painted swiftly and capturing perfectly Poppy''s honest features and dimpled chin.

Farquharson retained the painting but donated it to Aberdeen Art Gallery the year before his death.