Although he was born in America, the painter John Singer Sargent (1856-1925) grew up abroad, largely in Paris. His father was an eye surgeon, and when John's mother suffered a nervous breakdown after the death of a child, the family moved to Europe to help her recover. John was born in Florence, Italy, and he accompanied his peripatetic parents on their seasonal moves between France, Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.

    Much of his education came through visiting churches and museums throughout Europe. Although he had little formal schooling, he was fluent in several languages, and knowledgeable about art, music, and literature. He studied with several artists, and finally entered the Ecole des Beaux-Arts in Paris, where he won student prizes. He also met many famous artists, including Edgar Degas, Claude Monet, and the American James Abbott McNeill Whistler.

    Sargent became one of the best-known portrait artists of his time. After completing his studies, he traveled in Spain and Italy. Back in Paris he almost immediately began receiving commissions for portraits. He was a business-like painter with many satisfied customers, so he was able to charge high prices for his work and turn down customers he didn't like.

    His career was not without twists, however. In 1884, he entered into competition his "Portrait of Madame X." Now considered one of his greatest works, at its unveiling it caused a great controversy. It was considered too sensual, too shocking for the general public. Customers stopped coming, and he finally moved to London in 1886.

    He continued to paint portraits in London, and on an American tour. In all, Sargent completed about 900 oil paintings during his career, and over 2,000 watercolors, as well as untold charcoal drawings and pencil sketches. In addition to portraits, he recorded his travels throughout Europe, the Middle East, and parts of America.

    He remained a bachelor throughout his life, though he had many close friends, including the American expatriate author Henry James and King Edward VII of England.

    Sargent died of heart disease in England in 1925.

    Vocabulary: Which word above means:

    1. person who lives outside his home country

    2. no-nonsense, professional

    3. mental exhaustion that requires treatment

    4. not counted

    5. depending on the time of year

    6. public disagreement

    7. smooth, capable

    8. sexually exciting

    9. wandering, nomadic

    10. uncovering, revealing

    ANSWERS: 1. expatriate 2. business-like 3. nervous breakdown 4. untold 5. seasonal 6. controversy 7. fluent 8. sensual 9. peripatetic 10. unveiling