Timeline
The life and career of John Singer Sargent, 1856–1925
Born January 12 in Florence to the American expatriates FitzWilliam Sargent and Mary Newbold Singer Sargent
At thirteen, takes watercolour lessons from the German landscape painter Carl Welsch
Moves to Paris in May and begins training with Carolus-Duran; sits the entrance examination of the École des Beaux-Arts
Exhibits at the Paris Salon for the first time and works with Carolus-Duran on a ceiling for the Luxembourg Palace
Shows the Cancale oyster gatherers (En route pour la pêche) at the Salon
Portrait of Carolus-Duran wins an honourable mention at the Salon; travels to Spain to copy Velázquez at the Prado
Paints in Tangier and Venice and visits Haarlem
Paints El Jaleo and The Daughters of Edward Darley Boit; returns to Venice
Takes his own studio at 41 boulevard Berthier, Paris, and begins the portrait of Madame Gautreau
Madame X causes a scandal at the Paris Salon
Spends the autumn at Broadway in the Cotswolds and begins Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose
Settles in London, taking Whistler's former studio in Tite Street, Chelsea
Carnation, Lily, Lily, Rose shown at the Royal Academy and bought for the Tate through the Chantrey Bequest; Henry James's essay on Sargent appears in Harper's New Monthly Magazine; sails for New York in September
First one-man exhibition, at the St. Botolph Club in Boston, including the portrait of Isabella Stewart Gardner
Appointed muralist for the Boston Public Library; paints about forty portraits in nine months in America
Elected an associate of the Royal Academy
Elected a full Royal Academician; paints Henry G. Marquand for the Metropolitan Museum's trustees
Announces that he will paint no more commissioned portraits
Is painting in the Tyrol when the First World War breaks out
Sells Madame X to the Metropolitan Museum of Art; the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston asks him to decorate its new building
Visits the Western Front as an official British war artist, accompanied by Henry Tonks
Completes Gassed in March; it is named picture of the year at the Royal Academy
Commissioned by Harvard to paint First World War memorial murals for Widener Library
Dies in his sleep at his Chelsea home in April, on the eve of sailing for Boston; buried at Brookwood Cemetery, Surrey. His Colonnade murals are unveiled at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, in November