On May 22, 2013, Sotheby’s New York will offer a rare John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) painting as part of its annual spring auction of American Art. Marionettes (1903), which is expected to sell for between $5 million and $7 million, was part of Sargent’s personal collection for over 20 years and was passed down through the artist’s family to the present owner.
Best known for his portraits of members of high society, Marionettes is a departure from Sargent’s usual subjects. The painting depicts men from Philadelphia’s large Italian American community performing Sicilian puppet theater at the turn of the 20th century. When Sargent created the work, he was well established and considered to be the preeminent portrait painter of his time.
Eventually, Sargent grew tired of painting portraits and started traveling to seek out new inspirations. Sargent painted a number of marionette works during a four-month stint in Philadelphia. In 1909, Sargent ceased painting portraits of the elite altogether and decided to paint only what he wanted to.
Only six works by Sargent have ever appeared at auction and carried an estimate in excess of $5 million. Group with Parasols, which sold at Sotheby’s in 2004 for $23.5 million, set the record for the artist at auction.
Marionettes will go on view at Sotheby’s on May 18, 2013.
