Beyond Beauty: A Portrait of John Singer Sargent

John Singer Sargent (1856–1925) is one of the most famous American artists of all time, yet his personal life and character have remained elusive more than a century after his death. Today, as Sargent’s reputation reaches new heights, the man—restless, deceptively daring, and shrouded in secrecy—is ripe for reappraisal. Beyond Beauty delves into Sargent’s guarded inner-life, illuminating his contradictions and complexity: an American outsider born and raised in Europe; a reserved gentleman with latent passions; a celebrated painter of the rich and famous who was drawn to unconventional rule-breakers. Devon Cox explores Sargent’s visionary talent, which challenged artistic and social strictures on both sides of the Atlantic, from his scandalous portrait of Madame X in Paris to his depictions of the Black bellman Thomas McKeller in Boston. Cox also reveals how Sargent’s sumptuous portraits exposed the secret, inner lives of his subjects while his sensual landscapes and dramatic murals provided clues to his own rebellious spirit and repressed desires. Drawing on new research and unpublished memoirs and letters, Cox also sheds light on Sargent’s sexuality and intimate relationships, from his letters to and sketches of artist Albert de Belleroche, to his connection with a soldier he met while serving as an official war artist. Capturing the glamor and intrigue of the Gilded Age, Beyond Beauty is a fresh, unvarnished portrait of a legendary, enigmatic artist for the twenty-first century.

About the Author :
Devon Cox is the author of The Street of Wonderful Possibilities: Whistler, Wilde and Sargent in Tite Street. He lives in London.

Review :
"Evocative… A detailed window into the life of an enigmatic artist." "After reading this engaging book, we know that Sargent’s passions were not limited to his brush. Devon Cox, through scrupulous research into family papers, news reports, and diaries, offers revelatory insights into the complex constellation of family, friends, artists, models orbiting around a man who preferred to let his paintings speak for themselves." "An absolute delight. I have always loved Sargent’s work and now I love it even more for the new insights Devon Cox brings to this masterly biography. It is as elegant and entertaining as its subject." "Deeply researched and elegantly written . . . . Devon Cox deftly explores the dual worlds Sargent straddled: though an habitué of the drawing rooms of titled nobility and plutocrats, he befriended bohemian artists who flourished in a gender fluid culture that flouted convention. An exhilarating read." "Devon Cox is passionate about his subject, and his devotion is reflected in his writing. This phenomenally detailed, consistently sensitive account gives us not only the charismatic painter of fashion and beauty but the multifaceted, introspective man." "Devon Cox tells the story of Sargent’s life and he tells it well, keeping the artist center stage among a host of outgoing characters while covering new ground in style. The book goes with a swing and carries one along. He has done a great job in bringing the artist to life and charting his career and that in itself is a remarkable achievement."