Nonchaloir (Repose) – John Singer Sargent

Painting of young woman asleep on sofa in elegant room
John Singer Sargent, Nonchaloir (Repose), American, 1856 – 1925, 1911, oil on canvas, Gift of Curt H. Reisinger

John Singer Sargent was famous for his high society portraits set in elegant rooms like this. Find out why he gave up what he called “a pimp’s profession” and began painting just for his own pleasure, doing landscapes and scenes of his family. His niece Rose-Marie, pictured here, became one of his favorite subjects.

Painted just before World War I, we also find out what happened to them after this peaceful afternoon.

SHOW NOTES

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas

Episode theme is 3 Pieces composed by Lili Boulanger performed by  Pandora Selfridge. Courtesy of musopen.org

Nonchaloir (Repose) information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.35080.html

https://www.nga.gov/audio-video/audio/repose-nonchaloir-sargent.html

John Singer Sargent information
https://www.nga.gov/collection/artist-info.1858.html

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

Recommended Reading:

A Catalogue of the Collection of American Paintings in the Corcoran Gallery of Art: Volume 2, Painters Born from 1850 to 1910 (PDF 9.8 MB)

American Paintings of the Nineteenth Century, Part II (PDF 91.2 MB)

John Singer Sargent and His Muse by Karen Corsano and Daniel Williman

River Landscape with Cows – Aelbert Cuyp

Painting of cows in a landscape
Aelbert Cuyp (Dutch, 1620 – 1691), River Landscape with Cows, 1645/1650, oil on panel, Gift of Family Petschek (Aussig) 1986.70.1

This evening scene celebrates the peace and prosperity the Dutch were finally enjoying after 80 years of war with Spain. But don’t be fooled by its bucolic vibe. The backstory of its ownership is something straight out of Indiana Jones.

We’ll find out why the cow is a Dutch icon and the clever way one family screwed with the Nazis to keep this out of their hands.

SHOW NOTES

“A Long Look” theme is “Ascension” by Ron Gelinas

Episode theme is Sonata No. 15 in D Major Pastoral, Op. 28 – I. Allegro composed by Ludwig van Beethoven performed by Paul Pitman. Courtesy of musopen.org

River Landscape with Cows information
Arthur K. Wheelock Jr., “Aelbert Cuyp/River Landscape with Cows/1645/1650,” Dutch Paintings of the Seventeenth Century, NGA Online Editions (accessed August 27, 2018).

A Painting’s History: Cuyp’s River Landscape with Cows (video)

Slow Art Day http://www.slowartday.com

Recommended Reading

Paintings in the Dutch Golden Age (PDF)

The Embarrassment of Riches by Simon Schama