Boston to see Sargent works

Old Oct 25th, 2009, 06:09 AM
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Boston to see Sargent works

Where would you suggest staying for a trip to Boston incorporating visits to places where Sargent's work is located? Public Library, Harvard Library, MFA for instance. Would like to walk or take bus if possible.
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Old Oct 25th, 2009, 06:37 AM
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Location of Sargent's work that I know of:

1) Boston Public Library mural - preferable with a free docent-guided tour. http://www.bpl.org/central/tours.htm Try to go on a sunny day, as the space where the murals are is quite dark.

2) Museum of Fine Arts Boston for the Sargent paintings as well as the ceiling murals. BTW there aren't too many Sargent paintings on view at the MFA right now, as they only allocate 2 galleries to American paintings. The new American wing will open Fall 2010 which has 40+ galleries all dedicated to American art.

3) Gardner museum for his El Jaleo and portrait of Mrs Gardner http://www.gardnermuseum.org/collect...rgent_p7s1.asp

4) The Harvard Art Museums currently is undergoing a major renovation; so their huge collection is packed into just 3 floors of galleries at the Sackler. It's titled RE-VIEW. I was there just 2 weeks ago, and honestly, don't quite recall if there is any Sargent paintings on view there or not. But they have a very fine selection of artwork, so I think it's still worthwhile to visit if you like art. Just don't expect lots of Sargent.

As a result, I think I would recommend staying in Back Bay near Copley Sq. There are at least a dozen hotels right in that neighborhood. DON'T TAKE THE BUS in Boston - not visitors-friendly. You can take the T a few stops from Copley Sq out to the MFA (Gardner Museum is right next door). BPL is right at Copley sq.

Hope this helps.
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Old Oct 25th, 2009, 06:39 AM
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P.S. I don't know when your trip is and where else you'll be visiting, but there's a Sargent exhibition at the Corcoran Gallery of Art in DC until Jan 2010. http://www.corcoran.org/sargent/index.php
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Old Oct 25th, 2009, 08:34 AM
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If you stay in the Prudential Center/Back Bay/Copley area, the walk to the Museum of Fine Arts is about one mile. It's an easy and not unpleasant walk--you can go straight down Huntington Ave., passing the Christian Science Center, Symphony Hall, and parts of Northeastern University.

If the weather is bad, from Copley Sq. you can take the subway (the E line, it is above ground at the Museum) or the #39 bus which runs right down Huntington. The cash fare for the bus is $1.50 and your hotel can give you directions to the closest bus stop. It's easy.

To get to Harvard Square, you would take the subway Green Line inbound to Park St., change to the Red Line outbound (towards Alewife) and get off at Harvard Square.

There is also the #1 bus that runs the length of Massachusetts Avenue from Boston to Harvard Square.
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Old Oct 25th, 2009, 08:52 AM
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Prudential Center/Back Bay/Copley area is it, thanks yk and cw.

yk, just visited the Corcora-have you been yet? I was absolutely brought to tears the 3 times I saw the one at the National a few years back. Unbelievable talent!
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Old Oct 25th, 2009, 04:07 PM
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TDudette, I've been to the Corcoran before, but not recently. My sis-in-law recently saw the Sargent show there.
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Old Oct 25th, 2009, 07:02 PM
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What was her impression, yk? I came away wanting more paintings and fewer sketches but the Pecheurs was amazing and the individual paintings done first were also.
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Old Oct 25th, 2009, 07:16 PM
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I know she liked it, but I didn't ask her for any details. Sorry!
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Old Oct 25th, 2009, 09:45 PM
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I, OTOH, loved the Sargent sketches at the Corcoran and wished there had been more!

To each her own...
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Old Oct 26th, 2009, 06:14 AM
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That's funny, easy! Really, everyone is different! I'm just glad Sargent left such a large body of work for me to cry over.
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Old Oct 29th, 2009, 03:32 PM
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TDudette, I read about this book today:

Sargent's Daughters by Erica Hirshler
http://www.amazon.com/Sargents-Daugh.../dp/0878467424

I believe it came out recently. Hirshler is a curator at the MFA Boston. The painting, The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit by Sargent, is on view at the MFA (the 2 Chinese vases portrayed in tha painting are on view too, right next to the painting).
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Old Oct 29th, 2009, 04:16 PM
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Thanks, yk, I will get it from the library asap. Is that painting a permanent part of MFA's collection? I own a book about him edited by Killmurray and Ormond and think they commented about the dynamics of the girls' relationships being hinted at in that work (and others actually).
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Old Oct 29th, 2009, 04:58 PM
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Yes, it is MFA's permanent collection. It's one of MFA's most famous painting, so chances are it'll be on view all the time (as well as the vases).
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Old Nov 2nd, 2009, 08:27 AM
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I once read that my favorite painting The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit was once referred to by a critic as Two Vases and a Void. I thought that was pretty funny but reflects how unreceptive the public was to Sargent's style initially.
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Old Nov 2nd, 2009, 10:31 AM
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Hmm. Wonder if it was because he made the mistake of becoming a successful artist! IMHO, his works should have been right up there with the Impressionists.
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Old Nov 2nd, 2009, 11:19 AM
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the daughters of Edward Boit is a reason to visit the MFA
it's unlike his other works, rather mysterious, especislly when knowing what the girls are like years later.
The Gardner has the magnificent El Jaleo, I visit it often.
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Old Nov 2nd, 2009, 12:23 PM
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I would be so happy to see anything Sargent again
In London, my husband had to finally drag me away from standing in front of one, memorizing it ... enjoy ..
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Old Nov 2nd, 2009, 12:57 PM
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Amazingly, I think I have seen most paintings in DC so the murals would be my goal. The Tate was being renovated when DH and I visited London so that's on the list as well.

cigalechanta, I envy your being so close. What happened to the girls later?

Scarlett, how long will you be in SA? Which portrait did your DH have to pull you away from?
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Old Dec 9th, 2009, 03:10 PM
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TDudette, I just came across this free lecture today (part of WGBH/PBS network) while surfing on line. It is a lecture by Erica Hirshler, the author and MFA curator I mentioned in a previous post. I haven't gotten around to listen to it yet, but I bet you should find this interesting?
http://forum-network.org/lecture/joh...-edward-d-boit
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Old Dec 10th, 2009, 08:26 AM
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Thanks, yk, I'll check it out. In the meantime, I booked a trip in March with London at the end so I'll get there first, fates willing!
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