Sargent was born in Florence to American parents and travelled extensively throughout Europe as a young boy. In 1874, he moved to Paris and joined the atelier of Emile Carolus-Duran, where he became interested in Velasquez and the Impressionists. Sargent also enrolled at the Ecole des Beaux-Arts the same year and completed various formal qualifications in life drawing, perspective and anatomy. Sargent was successful in France until his infamous 'Madame X' portrait was badly received at the Salon exhibition in May 1884. The scandal forced him to move to London in 1886. Sargent soon became the leading society portrait painter of his day, completing numerous commissions from wealthy British families. America also represented a breakthrough and Sargent produced many society portraits and decorated the Boston Public Library from 1890-1916. By 1910, he had almost completely renounced portraiture in favour of landscapes. In the First World War, Sargent resided in America from April 1916-May 1918. On his return, he was commissioned to execute a painting ('Gassed') for a planned Hall of Remembrance. This was arranged through both a formal invitation by the British War Memorials Committee, and a personal letter sent by Lloyd George. Sargent travelled to the Western Front with Henry Tonks in July 1918. Alongside the commissioned painting, he undertook a number of watercolours, many of which were purchased for the Museum by Sir Muirhead Bone. Sargent was also commissioned by Sir Abe Bailey in 1919 to paint 'General Officers of World War I, 1914-18' for the National Portrait Gallery.

Studied under Karl Welsch, Rome, 1868-69; Accademia delle Belle Arti, Florence, 1870-71; studied under Carolus-Duran, Paris, 1874-76, Ecole des Beaux-Arts 1874-77

First World War 1918 Ministry of Information commission, Scheme 1(single picture). Commission administration transferred to the Imperial War Museum