Gari Melchers & John Singer Sargent

Did Gari Melchers (1860-1932) know fellow artist John Singer Sargent (1856-1925)? The American expats were, after all, born only four years apart and lived parallel lives and moved in similar circles. In a 1918 letter to Sargent, Melchers admits to knowing him “very slightly” and that it was “years since you and I last met.” Although they were not close, the two men certainly had a lot in common.

Both artists were quite prolific, spoke several languages, and studied in Paris.

self portrait of Gari Melchers — Gari Melchers Self-Portrait, 1896

self portrait of John Singer Sargent — Gari Melchers Self-Portrait, 1896

They both enjoyed painting en plein air.

black and white sketch of Gari Melchers painting — Gari Melchers

black and white photo of John Singer Sargent painting outdoors — Gari Melchers

At the 1886 Paris Salon, Gari Melchers received an honorable mention for his monumental painting The Sermon, while Sargent, two years earlier, created a scandal with his portrait now known as Madame X.

Detail from Gari Melchers' painting, The Sermon which shows people in church. — *The Sermon*, 1886, click to enlarge

This is a black and white image of John Singer Sargent's original portrait of Madame X which shows a young woman in a long dress with one strap off her shoulder. She's looking to the side. — *The Sermon*, 1886, click to enlarge

At the 1889 Paris Exposition, the artists each received a Grand Prize medal for American Painting for their collective showing. Melchers’ paintings featured scenes of the Dutch working class whereas Sargent highlighted his fashionable female portraits.

Four images by Gari Melchers featuring Dutch people doing everyday things. — Melchers’ Paris Exposition paintings

6 images of paintings by John Singer Sargent featuring society portraits of women and children — Sargent’s Paris Exposition paintings

round, gold medal with 1889 one one side and Gari Melchers on the other — Melchers’ gold medal, GMHS collections

A Parisian art critic was quick to point out the reason for their success: “…Mr. Sargent and Mr. Melchers, who won medals of honor, are in reality half-Parisians.” According to one art critic, Sargent had no peer at the Paris Expo as a portrayer of female sitters.

Gari Melchers’ Portrait of Mrs. John W. Garrett in Spanish Costume, 1926, (left) was based in pose and conception on the earlier Sargent portrait of a Spanish dancer, La Carmencita, 1890 (right).

portrait by Gari Melchers of a middle-aged woman in a fancy dress with flowers and bows on it
and portrait of the same woman by John Singer Sargent in a gold colored fancy dress

Both artists were commissioned to paint President Theodore Roosevelt while he was in office. Sargent, however, holds the honor of painting the president’s official White House portrait.

Gari Melchers was particularly aware of the importance of Painting a President. He wrote to his wife, Corinne, that “This painting the President is rather anxious business.” He added, “Everybody in the White House is expecting me to outdo the portrait of Sargent. May I not disappoint them.”

For his part, Sargent lamented that “Every time I paint a portrait, I lose a friend.”

Which portrait do you prefer? President Roosevelt was pleased with both portraits and thought it fitting that they were painted by American artists.