Alpine Pool

John Singer Sargent

1907 · Oil on canvas · The American Wing

While staying in the tiny hamlet of Purtud, in northern Italy, Sargent painted a series of images in oil and watercolor of the town’s small alpine brook. The flowing water challenged his unflagging interest in recording effects of sunlight. In Alpine Pool, he adopted a close vantage point and directed his gaze downward to the shimmering water—exploring its transparent and reflective qualities—as well as to the rocks and foliage along the banks. The result is a nearly abstract arrangement of form and color.

Artist

John Singer Sargent

Date

1907

Medium

Oil on canvas

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift of Mrs. Francis Ormond, 1950