Curated by Mom: John Singer Sargent

Gallery director Tamara Beckwith Veroni discusses her family's cross-generational love for the master of American portraiture

At a time when Cubists were experimenting with new dimensions and Fauvists were playing with blaringly whimsical color palettes, John Singer Sargent—best known for his full-length portraits of Edwardian-era women—quietly retained his own version of realism. And it’s a good thing he did, as his time-tested aesthetic (a modernized take on the high contrasts and rich hues of Diego Velazquez) has certainly made an impact on gallerist, writer, and co-founder of The Little Black Gallery in London, Tamara Beckwith Veroni. We talked to the art savvy mom—who happens to specialize in contemporary photography—about her deeply rooted admiration for this beloved artist. —Lucie Alig 

The work at your gallery is so contemporary! What is it about this turn-of-the-century artist that makes you tick?  

Singer Sargent’s portraits are so beautiful, and they really make you wonder about the sitters and what they were thinking. Who was she? Was she happy? The paintings, sadly, are relics of a bygone time, but they’re heavenly to look at.

How would you describe your kids’ experience with John Singer Sargent?

My elder daughter has always loved his work. When she was at boarding school, my mother and I would send her postcards of his paintings. The portrait of the sisters, Ena and Betty, has been exchanged between us many times. On the whole, I think Singer Sargent’s works just conjure such serenity, and his use of color is sumptuous. Just the dark red color of his subject’s evening dress is enough to make me feel good. 

What’s your favorite museum or gallery to go to with your three-year-old?

At the moment Violet is enthralled with The Natural History Museum, which thankfully is at our doorstep! She cannot believe the size of the dinosaurs, and always comes home with all kinds of questions. I suppose at the grand old age of three and a half, life is still full of wonder. 

Any tips for teaching the younger set about the art world? 

The more we expose our children to these supposedly “adult” artists, the better. I have a girlfriend who’s very proud that her little girl can differentiate between a Monet and a Van Gogh. I thought this a little precocious at first, until my own daughter started showing an interest. Funnily enough, I have now become keen to encourage! 

Image 1: The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit, 1882

      John Singer Sargent (American, 1856-1925)

                  Oil on Canvas

                  *Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Gift of Mary Louisa Boit, Julia Overing Boit, Jane Hubbard 

                    Boit, and Florence D. Boit in memory of their father, Edward Darley Boit

                  *Photograph © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Image 2: Mrs. Charles E. Inches (Louise Pomeroy), 1887

                 John Singer Sargent (American, 1856-1925)

                 Oil on Canvas

                 Anonymus gift in memory of Mrs. Charles Inches' daughter, Louise Brimmer Inches Seton

                 © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

                 Accession Number: 1991.926

Image 3: Mrs. Fiske Warren (Gretchen Osgood) and Her Daughter, Rachel, 1903

                 John Singer Sargent (American, 1856-1925)

                 Oil on Canvas

                 Gift of Mrs. Rachel Warren Barton and Emily L. Ainsley Fund

                 © Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

                 Accession Number: 64.693