John Singer Sargent (1856-1925)

He was born at the Casa Arretin in Florence, Italy, and was directly descended from Colonel Epes Sargent of Gloucester, Massachusetts, whose portrait was painted by John Singleton Copley. His parents were nomadic Americans who were predominantly based in Paris but roamed Europe for the benefit of his mother's health. He studied at the Florence Academy of Fine Art before taking himself to Paris to study under Carolus Duvan. There, he became close friends with his distant kinsman Ralph Wormeley Curtis and would soon become an important member of the Barbaro Set in Venice, keeping a studio at Ca' Rezzonico. From 1885, he based himself in London and was a frequent guest at Ightham Mote. In high society in both Europe and America he was considered to be, "the leading portrait painter of his generation". He was unmarried and died at 31-33 Tite Street in London which was both his home and his studio.