Lady X and Lady Agnew of Lochnaw – John Singer Sargent – Benjamin Eakins Calligraphy

In mid September, 2018, Art and I visited New York. We stayed with friends in Hoboken and for two of our three days, commuted into New York to spend time at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Several months back, Art began working on a copy of John Singer Sargent’s painting of Lady Agnew of Lochnaw. After watching her image unfold in stages on Art’s canvass I feel that I know Lady Agnew intimately. Enjoy watching Art’s 45 second process video and watch Lady Agnew appear.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Met has a large collection of Sargent’s and although Lady Agnew was not among their collection, seeing Madame X, also by Sargent was on Art’s bucket list.

Visiting museums is perhaps my favorite activity and inspiration. I feel excited as I enter each new gallery and encounter world class paintings that have become my friends and sometimes even portray my family. Adjoining the Sargent gallery is a room with several Thomas Eakins paintings. I am immediately drawn to the painting of his father, Benjamin Eakins writing calligraphy. Thomas Eakins is my great great uncle. His sister is my great grandmother and Benjamin Eakins is my great great grandfather. Handed down to me from the Crowell family (my maiden name) of Avondale Pennsylvania are several original works of calligraphy by Benjamin Eakins.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When I returned to California, I looked through my archives and here are a few photos of a  of the original calligraphies.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On day four we drove south into Pennsylvania to visit the Brandywine River Art Museum. In 2001 this museum featured a retrospective Thomas Eakins exhibit but the museums focus and permanent collection are the paintings by N.C. Wyeth and Andrew Wyeth. We enjoyed a tour to N.C. Wyeth’s studio as well as time visiting the museum collection.