From October to November 1909, Sargent accompanied his sister Emily and mutual friends on a painting expedition in Corfu, where they stayed at the Villa Soteriotisa. There he captured this tropical paradise overlooking the Mediterranean and distant islands. Painting from the viewer’s perspective, Sargent blends together greens, yellows and oranges to create an effervescent vista of orange tree groves. Compared to his formal portrait commissions, Sargent’s seascape records an enjoyable moment from a personal experience.

John Singer Sargent, 1909,
Worcester Art Museum, Worcester, MA, 12/01/19