A 2pp autograph letter signed by American portrait painter John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), as "John S. Sargent" at the center of the second page. Written from Sargent's residence at 115th East 23rd Street in New York City on March 28, [1890] on watermarked bifold stationery paper with a black mourning border (Sargent's father, Dr. FitzWilliam Sargent, had died nearly one year earlier, in late April 1889.) The second and last pages are blank. Expected wear including flattened folds, and an isolated pencil inscription made by a former collector, else near fine. 4.375" x 6.875." Accompanied by its original transmittal envelope, also engrossed by Sargent, from Brentano's stationery shop at Union Square, with numerous philatelic markings and a partly ripped flap, else very good. From a recently discovered collection that has not seen the light of day for over 70 years!

John Singer Sargent penned this letter to "E.D. French, President Art Students' League." Edwin Davis French (1851-1906) was a former student of the Art Students League of New York who served as its president from 1889-1891.

Sargent wrote French in full, with untouched spelling and punctuation:

"115 E 23d
March 28th

Dear Sir

I will have great pleasure in going to the annual reception of the Art Students' League to which you kindly invite me, and thank you for the kind proposition of a horse + carriage of which I will not avail myself.

I am Sir,
most respectfully,
John S. Sargent

E.D. French, Esq.
President Arts Students' League."

Sargent, an American expatriate, had ventured to the United States on a professional basis between 1887-1888. Around the same time that he accepted this invitation to the Art Students League reception in 1890, Sargent completed two non-commissioned works designed to publicize his considerable portrait painting abilities: a dramatic oil on canvas depicting Shakespearean actress Ellen Terry in her role as Lady Macbeth; and a monumental portrait of Andalusian ballerina La Carmencita in a glittering orange costume. Sargent became so well-known for his portrait paintings that he was able to charge about $5,000 for full-scale oil paintings and $400 for drawings, making the portrait business extremely lucrative.

Sargent's exact ties to the New York chapter of the Art Students League are unclear, since he was taught in Europe. However, two of Sargent's artist friends, J. Carroll Beckwith and Howard Russell Butler, had either attended or taught at the Art Students League of New York; and pupils of the independent art school established in 1875 by former students of the National Academy of Design were doubtlessly aware of the work of such a celebrated contemporary artist as Sargent.

Edwin Davis French was a skilled silver and copper plate engraver famed for his meticulous bookplate engravings. In addition to his affiliation with the New York Art Students League, French was also a member of the Bibliophile Society, the Grolier Club, the National Arts Club, and the American Fine Art Society.

This item comes with a Certificate from John Reznikoff, a premier authenticator for both major 3rd party authentication services, PSA and JSA (James Spence Authentications), as well as numerous auction houses.

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